Special Correspondent, TAYE AYOTUNDE, analyses the strides and challenges of Nigerian women in political leadership.
The allegation that women are under-represented in politics and other spheres of life in most countries, in contrast to men, continues to rage, with analysts taking diverse positions on the issue. Some, for instance, insist that the situation may not be entirely hopeless, given that women are increasingly being elected to headship of governments and states in some countries.
They argue, for example, that more than 20 countries currently have women holding offices as heads of national governments, and commanding 20 per cent of parliamentary representations. Some other countries, not fully keyed into the arrangement are known to be involved in exploring measures that may increase women’s participation in government at all levels, from the local to the national.
While she was Ekiti State First Lady, Bisi Fayemi promoted the issue of gender equality and women empowerment to great heights. Part of her conviction was that human rights belonged to all; but enforcing it required the cooperation of government, the civil society, international and traditional communities. It had, for instance, pained her that most of the elective positions in the state at her time were occupied by the men. The situation made her fear that women might lose out, since all candidates for the House of Assembly and National Assembly were males.
She consequently made case for a female running mate for her husband, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. This was how Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka emerged as Ekiti deputy governor.
Mrs. Fayemi’s demonstration of bravery was in line with other agitations for women empowerment. Those in the agenda have maintained that increasing women representation in the government can empower women and ensure gender parity.
Female representation, it is also stressed, not only advances women’s rights, but also advances the rights of children. In national legislatures, there is a notable trend of women advancing gender and family-friendly legislation. This advocacy has been seen in countries such as France, Sweden, Netherlands, South Africa, Rwanda and Egypt.
Our reporter also learnt that a number of studies from both industrialised countries indicate that women in local government tend to advance social issues. In India, for instance, greater women representation correspond with a more equitable distribution of community resources, including more gender-sensitive spending on programmes related to health, nutrition and education.
In 1954, the United Nations Convention on the Political Rights of Women went into force, enshrining women’s equal rights to vote, hold office, and access public services as provided for male citizens within national laws.
Challenges before women
Analysts argue that women face numerous obstacles in achieving representation in governance. Their participation, it has been noted, is particularly limited by the assumption that women’s proper sphere is the “private” sphere. Whereas the “public” is one of political authority and contestation, the “private” realm is associated with the family and the home. By relegating women to the private sphere, their ability to enter the political arena is curtailed.
Gender inequality within families, inequitable division of labour within households, and cultural attitudes about gender roles further subjugate women and serve to limit their representation in public life. Societies that are highly patriarchal often have local power structures that make it difficult for women to combat. Thus, their interest are often not represented.
Even once elected, women tend to hold lesser cabinet positions. These are described as “soft industries”. Rarely do women hold executive decision-making authority in more powerful domains or those that are associated with traditional nations of masculinity (such as finance and the military). Typically, the more powerful the institution, the less likely it is that women’s interest will be represented. Additionally, in more autocratic nations, women are less likely to have their interests represented. Many women attain political standing due to kinship ties, as they have male family members who are involved in politics. These women tend to be from higher income, higher status families and thus may not be as focused on the issues faced by lower income families.
Additionally, women who face challenges in that their private lives seem to be focused more on their political careers. For instance, fashion choices are often picked apart by the media, and in this women rarely win, either they show too much skin or too little, they either look too feminine or too masculine. It is also observed that their romantic lives are a subject of much interest to the general population, perhaps more so than their stances on different issues.
If they are married and have children, then it becomes a question of how do they balance their life with taking care of their children, something that a male politician would not be asked about. For example, in Canada, there is evidence that female politicians face gender stigma from male members of the political parties to which they belong, which can undermine the ability of women to reach or maintain leadership roles.
The issue of women participating in politics has been a serious assignment that needs to be corrected if Nigeria aims to move ahead, it has been argued. Most homes have been broken in one way or the other because some men believe that their wives, participation politics is more of a minus on their activities at home.
Some men believe that their wives’ participation in the game would not allow them take care of the home, adequately.
Biodun Olujimi, former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, however argued that women that had participated in government had done very well in offices and their homes.
What had, however, worked against the women was that some of them went in without really understanding the terrain, hence they became victims of intrigues. A particular instance, in this case, is that of Patricia Etteh, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, whose removal was later found out to be on account of false allegations against her.
Due to the aggressive and competitive nature of politics – the belief is that participation in elected office requires masculine traits – the bias against women stems from the perception that femininity inherently produces weak leadership.
But, it appears now that the position of women in politics has received a boost from essentially manning the home other societal matters to increased participation. Even at that, findings have shown that it has not been coming on soft grounds for women who have felt the heat of politics in positions like Women Leader, Deputy Women Leader, Chief Women Organiser, and those who have stepped up the ladder to positions of Houses of Assembly Speakers, Deputy Governors and Ministers, among others.
