WOMEN AND POLITICS IN IMO STATE

ABSTRACT
Some elections showed a decline in the performance of women and this is very troubling given the ground swell and campaign for popular participation by women. Explanation for the factors which constitute impediments to women’s efforts at winning elective offices and enduring genuine political representation are legion. It is the contention of this paper that explanation for their dismal performance should be sought to serve as lessons for women’s future endeavour at political representation. The researcher offer in this paper a multi-layered structural, institutional and social explanation, drawing on concrete example of exclusionary politics based on gender relations. I will contend that the more women agitate for inclusion through their various platforms, the less democratic the spaces for inclusion open to women.

1.2 Statement of the Problem
Due to their dominant nature, men have engaged in a style of governance that has perpetuated their control over public and private spheres, as well as material and cultural resources. Women were denied an independent articulation of their interests in public matters and subsequently a whole range of rights by virtue of being denied suffrage, then education and resources, and the social approval necessary to hold public office. The understanding around the impact of gender on representation has changed significantly due to the feminist critique of social relations, making more women aware of the need to be represented by women. Research on women in parliaments identifies several justifications for the inclusion of women into the legislature. The first argument for women inclusion in building successful democracies is the need for peace and sustainability. In a society, all members must benefit from its existence and have an interest in its perpetuation. Without a substantial number of women in representation, there is little chance for women to have any distinct input in the shaping of the common good. As the saying goes, a democracy without women is just but half a democracy.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The main aim of this study is to access Women and politics in Imo state
The specific objectives are to:
i. To find out why women participate in politics in Imo state.
ii. To determine the type of political activities the women in Imo state participate in.
iii. Determine the advantages of women in politics in Imo state.
1.4 Research Questions
i. Do you think women should participate in politics in Imo state?
ii. Are there types of political activities the women in Imo state participate in?
iii. Are there advantages of women in politics in Imo state?

1.5 Significance of the Study
The exclusion of women in politics has been identified in recent times as one of the major setbacks for economic development. Women’s groups are a strong pillar for grassroots politics; and a drive for more women participating in politics at the grassroots still faces a lot of challenges, making it difficult for them to harness available opportunities for economic development. Thus, the opportunity therein for more women’s participation in politics and women empowerment is yet to be exploited by the women’s groups in Nigeria.

There is growing recognition of the untapped capacity and talents of women and women’s leadership. Over the last decade, the rate of women’s representation in national parliaments globally has incrementally increased from 15 percent in 2002 to 19.8 percent in 2012. Some regions have seen particularly dramatic increases, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, where the number of women in parliaments has risen from 13.7 to 19.8 percent, and the Arab States region, which has seen an increase from 6.1 to 14.7 percent. This is still well below the 30 percent benchmark often identified as the necessary level of representation to achieve a “critical mass” – not to mention falling short of women’s representation as half of the world’s population.

1.6 Scope of the Study
The scope of the study covered The Imo State, Nigeria, it was also delineated to the Women and politics Imo State. The study equally describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents in the study area, ascertain the various political activities by the womenwithin the study area, ascertain why women involve in political activities inImo State, determine the advantages of women in politics in the study area.