Women Representation in Political Leadership

ABSTRACT
The study investigated women representation in political leadership. The objectives to achieve the aim were to describe women’s participation in the political sector and key leadership positions in Nigeria, to investigate the trends of women’s participation in political leadership in Nigeria, to explore obstacles the Nigerian women believe to restrict their ability to participate in the political sector and other positions of leadership and to examine the kind of resources or strategies needs to be implemented to help Nigeria women effectively participate in the political sector.
The study employed the descriptive survey method of research to carry out the study. The population consisted of all the female students in the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Education in Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye. The sample populations were the opinion polls of (50) fifty female students of the two selected faculties, namely Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Education in Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye. The respondents were year-one to year-four female students from these two faculties. The instrument for data collection was the questionnaire. The method was backed up with the theories of social role and the leadership categorization.
Findings revealed that women werr frequently thought to be too sentimental to be leaders. With responses of 10 (24%) and 12 (29%), the correlation study’s results support the notion that men were the ones who prevent women from running for office in party primaries. Patriarchal institutions often marginalised and reinforced gender stereotypes, which restricts women’s access to political power and diminishes their potential. However, women must figure out how to change cultural perceptions in order to remove patriarchal barriers and enable women to fully engage in politics, since public opinion has a big impact on women’s involvement. The information showed that patriarchy’s hegemony in the nation and public opinion had a significant influence on women’s political participation.
The study concluded that there is a noteworthy correlation between the number of women seeking office in Nigeria and public perception. The poll indicates that a significant section of Nigerians believe women have the knowledge and abilities necessary to take an active role in politics. The study also highlighted the ways in which cultural norms, educational achievement, socioeconomic standing, and media power are some of the variables that shape public perception. These elements play a part in the development of biases and preconceptions that support the idea that women are less competent or appropriate for positions of political engagement. We must take care of these basic issues before we can confront and modify unfavourable perceptions regarding women’s participation in politics.