CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS TO WOMEN’S SOCIO-POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ORLU L.G.A. OF IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Challenges and constraints to women’s socio-political and economic development in Orlu L.G.A. of Imo State, Nigeria is an attempt to highlight the areas women and particularly Orlu women were marginalized in socio-economic and political settings of the society. Considering the fact that, coherent continuity in any relationship is built upon the foundation of mutual relationship and guaranteed by the fact that, men and women are created equal and should as well, excise equal opportunity in consideration of gender-roles, is the main thrust of this paper. In spite of the crucial roles women play in the society, their efforts are undermined and relegated to no importance. This paper therefore, emphasizes the need for women to engage meaningfully in the society through expunging decrees and laws that are obnoxious to womanhood. Interesting issues such as widowhood practices, lack of inheritance of land and other valuable properties by women were discussed. Consequently, issues such as Biblical creation of man and woman were also studied. With the use of qualitative method of secondary and primary sources, the paper submitted that, in spite of the difficulties meted on Orlu women, they still have the opportunity to wrestle power with the men, because power is taken and not given. Finally, it is generally observed that, women and Orlu women in particular are willing and have been contributing to make Orlu a centre of socio-economic and political excellence.