A FRACTURED EXISTENCE: GENDER POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND THE CULTURE OF PATRIARCHY IN NIGERIA'S TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
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In response to the call for the attainment of a gender sensitive and responsive society for sustainable
development, tertiary institutions have embarked on a drive to bridge existing gender gaps in knowledge
production and consumption. With the active involvement of feminist scholars and gender experts, the
tertiary institution’s traditional structure which was male-centered and had women at a disadvantage is
being continually and consciously questioned. The Nigerian tertiary education system has undergone
several modifications as numerous reforms are made to ensure the reduction of gender disparities in the
institutions. Prominent among these reforms is the ongoing formulation and implementation of institutional
gender policies with specific reference to the adoption of the National Gender Policy in 2006 by the Nigerian
government. While it is commendable that these institutional policies have opened up opportunities for
gender equality among the students and faculty, it has also been argued that the tertiary system is yet to
achieve a full transformation because of the continuing presence of the conjoined twins; culture and
patriarchy. The disparities still present in gender roles in these institutions stem from patriarchal structures
and cultural traditions that emphasize male dominance in all facets of the society. This has led to a clear
disregard of women’s rights, abilities, and entitlements. This paper critiques the actual implementation of
the institutional gender policy and the specific cultural and patriarchal legacies embedded in the Nigerian
environment. Through the extant review of literature, the study deploys radical feminist theorizing in
exploring the stalled implementation of gender equality policies in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. It argues
that despite the numerical strength of female students and faculty, they remain subject to various forms of
violence and silencing due to the invidious interplay of culture and patriarchy within the society.
Keywords
JA Political science (General), JZ International relations