Purple Hibiscus Research: Women's Rights

Politics and labor are two of the most important factors which control the stability of society. Throughout the world, women do not have equal chances at participating or achieving success in them, and in Nigeria, their opportunity is even less.

Politics: Women's participation in politics is low, and their representation is even lower. In 2015, only 20 out of the 359 representatives in the Lower House, and 7 out of 109 representatives in the Upper House were women. This minuscule amount of participation leads to minimal representation for women inside and outside of the court. The lack of women in politics is not due to lack of trying. The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) created the "Nigerian Women Charter of Demand" in 2014, which demanded for the incorporation of 35% of women in all sectors of government. Additionally, political parties actively exclude women and do little to encourage their participation; female candidates are often subject to election violence, threats, and hate speech. Without a significant number of women in the houses, there will be no success in achieving equal rights. 

Labor/Education: Only about 36% of women are employed, and although they are allowed to choose any job they desire, they do not usually have the opportunity to do so. Many women in Nigeria either do not have access to quality education (because of poor economic conditions), or are not permitted to obtain one (due to traditional practices), which then limits them to work as unskilled, industrial laborers. 

Like all other countries, Nigeria's society is dominated by patriarchal values. However, they play a more significant and prominent role in controlling the lives of women compared to other countries. This forces them into more subservient roles, and to be subjugated by men in all aspects of life. For example, up to 50% of women have experienced domestic violence, and up to 75% in certain communities. Women are often forced to marry at an extremely young age, with the legal age being 18, but most are married by 16, or even by 12 in the northern region. They are allowed property rights, but traditional practices do not permit women to own or sell property, so many do not.

Law, traditional practices, and just the macho culture of Nigerian society limit women from being closely equal to men. Gradual change is occurring, but it is not significant enough