A PHILOSOPHICAL INSIGHT INTO 21ST CENTURY FEMINISM: NIGERIAN CONTEXT

Abstract

Feminism is a fluid and complex concept. It is even more complex in this century. Think of the issue of transgender and all the gender notions. Just like every other 'ism', it is embedded in all sorts of conceptual jargons; liberalism, sexism, radicalism, emancipation, equality, patriarchy, misogyny, etc. It means different things to different people of different times across different cultures and different languages. It often connotes gender war. This paper st investigates 21 century feminism in Nigerian context from the point of view of philosophy. Its locus cogitandi is to give a philosophical insight into the concept of feminism with focus on the elucidation of its identity, vision and mission, while it questions the particular condition of women in Nigerian context. Philosophy that serves the people should be pragmatic and contextualized. This paper questions whether feminism is still relevant in our time and especially in Nigeria. Although it acknowledges that feminism has helped to achieve much especially with regard to women empowerment and consequent contributions to development at various spheres, it recommends that there is a dire need to properly address the issue of feminism for there is still poor participation of women in political affairs, leadership and public services. But on the other hand, there is a more cogent need to deal with the more complex matters arising from even the achievements of the feminist movement as bits of dangerous alliance between career and motherhood continue to manifest. Some of our women who could not successfully combine their professional carriers and motherhood failed their families. This has very devastating ecological consequences. For example, divorce and consequent single parenting is on the steep increase with its devastating effects on the children and the society at large.