EFFECT OF GENDER DISCRIMINATION ON GIRL CHILD EDUCATION

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the study

Gender discrimination begins in early childhood and present in all stages of girls’ lives, which have a negative impact on their access to education at all levels, as well as on the capacity to use the benefits of education to improve their situation (UNICEF, 2018). Gender discrimination exists in Nigeria and it negatively affects girls more than their male counterparts. The Global Gender Gap Report (2010) highlights social and economic indicators such as wage disparities, participation in the country’s development, access to secondary and tertiary education, enrollment ratios and literacy as the mirror problem of gender discrimination in Nigeria.

Education is an important foundation to improve the status of women andhas been recognized as a potent and dynamic instrument for nationaldevelopment and social transformation. In every civilized society and especiallyin the African context, children are regarded as the pride of parents and thegreatest value the society possesses. This is why children are mostly cherishedand consciously protected from all forms of hazards and abuse. According to Obanya (2019), the girl-child educational attainment is low as records have shown that fewer girls go to school than boys. Offorma (2018) noted that this is because the girl-children have not been so lucky to be cherished, protected and loved in Nigerian society due to certain traditional practices, stereotyping, cultural and religious beliefs which put them at the risk of abuse and neglect.Gender inequality, discrimination and violence are anathema to human existence, healthy relationships and development. The issue of discrimination against the girl-child has remained an unresolved issue and a major concern in the academic discourse. Igube, (2014) and Asare (2018) noted that the general inferior economic, social and political status of the girl-child while recent studies are also showing the state of her existence from the formative-infancy stage through youth to the adult stage. More so, gender discrimination against the girl child education is contrary to fundamental human rights, equity, natural justice and good governance. Section 42 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999provides for freedom from discrimination on the grounds of ethnic group, origin, gender, religion, circumstances of birth, disability or political opinion. Unfortunately, gender discrimination on girl child’s education permeates everyfacet and this comes in several forms in Nigerian society including Makurdi community of Makurdi Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Benue State, Nigeria.

Forms of gender discriminatory practices and violence against girl child’seducation in Makurdi includes; early child marriage, widowhood, domestic violence. Possiblefactors that predispose the situation are; traditional land tenure systems andpatterns of inheritance, lack of access to credit, family preference for sons, lackof participation in public decision-making, discrimination in housing and employment, religious practices as well as incidence of rape, battery, traffickingin girl child and induced prostitution, (Book review: girl child education in Northern Nigeria by Dr.AsmauSaniMaikudi).

Fisho-Orideji, (2016) affirmed that the girl-child problem around theworld has many dimensions but the root of all kinds of discriminations and biasagainst the girl child lies in the customs, traditions and typical mindset of thesociety which considers the girl child and women as inferior beings. Women andgirls have been treated in the most inhuman ways from the inception of human civilization. Whereas, Igube, (2014) believes that the legacy of injustice against the girl child has continued in some parts of the world especially in African andAsian countries where there is frequent female feticide, female infanticide,sexual abuse, marginalization in terms of nutrition, health care and educationchallenge for the girl child. There would therefore be no gain saying thatviolence against women and bias against women in all spheres of life including;social, political, economic and religious sphere is a common norm in today’sworld (Alabi&Alabi, 2012).

Guttman, (2018) noted that the effect on gender discrimination of the girlchild’s education remains that, half of the total sexual assaults in the world arecommitted against girl children just as Fisho-Orideji, (2016) stated that, one ofthe leading causes of death among girl children is the complication frompregnancy and child bearing. Thus, improving basic education, especially femaleeducation, has a powerful influence on both mortality and fertility in Nigeria.

This study therefore seeks to examine the effect of gender discrimination on girl child education in Yola South LGA of Adamawa State.

Statement of Problem

Education is light and this light is indispensable especially in this fast changing world. Education is said to be the only way a third world country like Nigeria can become developed. Education is very essential in today’s society and the girl child must be educated in order to have a bright future. Part of the fundamental human rights of a child is the right to education. There are many factors that militate against the girl-child education.

In some Nigerian societies; they believe that it is an abomination to educate a female. Their beliefs are that women are supposed to be good cooks and mothers. Hence, education of the girl child is seen as a threat to male chauvinism. Some men believe that once the girl child is educated, she will be difficult to control and she could become loose, immoral and promiscuous. Consequently, the society in most cases sees the girl-child as a second fiddle; as a result, little or no effort is made towards her education especially when the parents are made to make a choice between educating the male-child and the girl-child.

Most of the common discrimination that appear to threaten the female gender include: The belief that men are stronger than women, the belief that education of women is a waste of resources, the belief that men are the bread winners, the belief that the male child will be a support for parents in the old age, the belief is that the gild child will eventually marry and ‘come under’ their husbands hence they are treated as inferior. Furthermore, to perpetuate the superiority of the male child over the girl-child, the girl-child is trained to put herself below her male siblings. In some homes, in order to make up for the financial inadequacy of the family, the girl-child is sent out to hawk in order to raise money for the family needs. In some cases, the girl-child may be given off for domestic labour in urban area for a regular income to the family (Ezeliora and Ezeokana, 2011).

These traditional practices/beliefs impose a lot of restrictions on the female gender education. It is regrettable that despite our progress as a society there is still an underestimation of the value of the girl-child. The psychological effect of gender discrimination and socio-cultural beliefs on the girl-child is the internalization of the low value accorded them by society. Hence, this study therefore seeks to ascertain the effects of gender discrimination on girl child education in Makurdi Local Government area of Benue State.

Objective of the study

The main objective of this project is to investigate the effect of gender discrimination on girl child education in Makurdi local government

The specific objective is to

1. Determine the level of awareness on gender discrimination with regards to the girl child education in Makurdi local government

2. Find out the effects of gender discrimination of the girl child on societal development in Makurdi local government

3. Investigate the relationship between the societal beliefs and the girl child education in in Makurdi local government

4. Determine the factors affecting the girl child’s participation in education in Makurdi local government

Research Questions

The following research questions were formulated to guide the study

1. What is the level of awareness on gender discrimination with regards to the girl child education in Makurdi local government

2. What are the effects of gender discrimination of the girl child on societal development in Makurdi local government of Benue state ?

3. What is relationship between the societal beliefs and the girl child education in Makurdi local government in Benue State?

4. What are the factors affecting the girl child’s participation in education in in Makurdi local government?

Research Hypotheses

The following research null hypotheses were raised to guide the study

1. The level of awareness on gender discrimination those not have significant different on the girl child education in Makurdi local government

2. gender discrimination of the girl child does not have significant effect on societal development in Makurdi local government of Benue state ?

3. There is no significant relationship between the societal beliefs and the girl child education in Makurdi local government in Benue State?

Significance of the Study

In view of the apparent danger of gender-role discrimination and socio-cultural beliefs that work against the female gender education there is great need to address the problem through the research outcome from this study.

It will help to educate the public to shed off negative attitude against female gender education while helping the society to create and reinforce gender stereotypes and give way to a new mind-set and a change in attitude in both male and females.

The findings of the study would be helpful to the school management in assessing the enrolment of the girl child into the school, punctuality of the girl child and the monitoring of the girl child’s performance so as to encourage subsequent increase in the rate of the girl child’s attendance to school.

Furthermore, the study would help parents, government, policy makers, international organizations and NGOs to boost female education.

Scope of the Study

This study is focused on examining the Effect of gender discrimination on girl child education in makurdi local government. The study is delimited to public and private primary schools in Makurdi Local government area of Benue State. These categories of respondents were chosen because the primary school is the starting point of education and if a girl child does not acquire the basic education in this sector, she will not be able to proceed into the secondary school sector. The study will also be delimited to five selected schools in Makurdi local government area of Benue State