ROLE OF RADIO IN THE AWARENESS OF GENDER INCLUSION AND THE MOBILIZATION OF WOMEN FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
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ROLE OF RADIO IN THE AWARENESS OF GENDER INCLUSION AND THE MOBILIZATION OF WOMEN FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Chapter one
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Women make up a sizable share of the Nigerian population. They are active in agricultural and economic sectors of society, and they have made substantial contributions to the decolonization and overall development of this magnificent country.
Women’s struggles date back to the 19th century, when women like Amina of Zaria, Madam Tinubu of Lagos, Olufuamilayo Ransom Kute of Abeokuta, Margaret Ekpo, and Hajji Gabon Swabia fought to give women a pride of place in Nigeria’s history.
Even after Nigeria became an independent sovereign nation, women continued to contribute to development and progress. In terms of politics, the aforementioned organisations, among others, have made major contributions to women’s mobilisation and enlightenment in order to secure their participation in the country’s politics.
Women’s issues are currently garnering global attention, resulting in practical answers to the challenges that impede their advancement. As a result, the campaign for women’s empowerment has increased women’s political awareness.
Some of them have crucial positions in government and have demonstrated their worth. Dora Akunyili, Oby Ezekwesili of Due Process Fame, Ndi Okereke Onyilike, and Ngozi Okonji Iweala, to name a few, have clearly distinguished themselves in their respective roles.Women’s responsibilities in development have long been overlooked and marginalised.
Politics in Nigeria has historically been played with a patronising attitude, which does little to enlighten women. Some of the criteria used include societal and cultural practices that have previously been misinterpreted as causing bias against women.
Women must be properly oriented so that their numerical strength and voting power can be effectively mobilised and directed towards the empowerment of other women, who will then care about the welfare of all women by implementing gender-sensitive laws to advance women’s concerns.What is the real meaning of politics?
Politics has been described by various scholars as the art of possibility, a game of wits, and everything that starts and ends with government. Politics is really about the art and science of governance.
That is, the study of power, including its distribution and application to human activities in society.Politics is derived from the Greek phrase Polis, which means “city state.”
According to Winter and Bellows (1968), Aristotle (384-322 Bc) claimed in his treatise on human associations that the most sovereign and inclusive association is the polis, which requires the institution of governance, law-making, enforcement, and eliciting obedience from society members.
Aristotle acknowledged that man is a political animal by nature. This implies that politics pervades every element of human existence. It manifests itself in social, economic, and cultural interactions between persons and organisations, and it transcends international borders.
The obvious manoeuvre associated with the concept and practice of politics inspired the formation of the Laswellian theory of politics, which says that politics is concerned with who gets what and how (Laswellian 1958).
The Nairobi global conference in 1985 to analyse and assess the achievements of the UN Decade for Women, as well as the Beijing fourth international conference on women in 1995, both prioritised issues affecting women and the media.
Despite international conferences and regulations promoting gender equality, this conference emphasised the role of the media in achieving gender equity in development. However, women’s participation in Nigerian politics is impeded by the media’s presentation of politics as a male-dominated arena.
Recent events have highlighted the role of mass media in the political growth of nations. Broadcasting is not just a tool for teaching, sensitising, and communicating about development issues; it is also essential to the development process.
Given that broadcast is being used around the world because to its ability to reach a large number of people, it should not be disregarded in the political scheme of things. This could explain why Nwankwo (1996: XI) believes that the media is an important component in promoting gender equality in politics.
The purpose here is not only to critically explore the role of broadcast media in achieving a gender equitable society, but also to draw feminists’ and media scholars’ attention to broadcast in terms of gender and politics. As a result, the focus is on the gender component of broadcasting and the goal of a gender-neutral politics.
It is argued that radio could have a significant impact on the advancement and acceptance of women in politics.
1.2 Statement of Research Problem
It is well acknowledged that women are underrepresented in politics. This could be due to the underlying belief that a woman’s role is in the kitchen. In other words, her home and family responsibilities should take precedence over her active participation in national development in general.
Another myth that undermines female participation is that women are not biologically predisposed to physically demanding and dangerous employment. This reasoning may be incorrect since, in the age of automation and decision-making revolution, intellectual aptitude is more crucial than physical energy.
Gender discrimination also has a key effect in women’s low political participation. Beverly (1995) states that society believes that women should only be mothers, schoolteachers, hairdressers, secretaries, nurses, maids, and social workers, and that they do not require education, let alone decision-making.
This assumption is false, as both men and women must and can pursue politics and development efforts in their own unique ways, alongside one another.
The home context also has an impact on female political activity. At home, men’s beliefs can directly or indirectly influence their wives’ decisions to enter politics.
Many political parties, reflecting broader socioeconomic realities, do not readily accept or promote many women into their upper echelons, let alone allow women to hold key roles within these organisations.
This is especially important in light of Abdullah’s (1993) argument that women’s liberation must be integrated into democratic movements.
As a result, if this problem is not addressed, women will stay uneducated, the country’s economy will suffer, and political progress would stall.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The purpose of this research is to investigate the role of radio in raising awareness about gender inclusion and mobilising women for political participation. There is a need for attitude shift and a complete reorientation in this regard.
Another goal of the study is to address the issue of women being victims of domestic abuse.
1.4 Research Questions.
In this study, an adequate attempt will be made to address the following questions.
Does colonial precedent effect women’s political participation?
To what extent does culture influence women’s participation in politics in Nigeria?
Do radio programmes effectively mobilise women for political participation?
Does women’s engagement in politics depend on their exposure to radio broadcasting media?
1.5 Significance of the Study
It is intended that by the completion of this study, information within the study’s framework will have been updated. This will help people understand how broadcast media may promote women’s participation in decision-making.
This study will focus the attention of the government on empowering women to engage in politics through the use of radio, television, films, and motion pictures in the packaging of news reports and events, as well as academics on journalist methods and training.
The government should encourage the well-being of women in general. Also, the federal government should promote the full utilisation of women in human resource development, as well as their acceptance as full participants in every phase of national development with equal rights and corresponding obligations, with at least 30% elective positions reserved for women.
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