PATRIARCHY AND EMERGENT GENDER EQUALITY IN NIGERIA

A LINGERING ISSUE IN NIGERIA NATION BUILDING

Abstract

Patriarchy has been defined as a system of male authority which oppresses women through its social, political and economic institutions. It has been said that there can be no gender equality without gender equity. Nigeria institutions are no doubt experiencing certain conditions that are common with their counterparts in other nations of the world but there are peculiar issues confronting their development in terms of productivity, welfare, growth and competitiveness (nation building). The issue of patriarchy and gender inequality on the productive
development of Nigeria in these present times is the focus of the paper. Thus, patriarchy is a determinant factor in gender equality and as such should be eradicated. Thispaper concludes that there can sites where patriarchy can be attacked like domestic production, paid employment, culture and religion,
sexuality, male violence, state. etc. There should be equal participation of women and their men counterpart in the society, eradicating socio-cultural delineation of the female gender, participation of women in the political institution and also strict
adherence of policies in eradicating discrimination of women.