GENDER EQUALITY DISCOURSE: CRITIQUE OF THE FEMINISTS’ VIEW IN IGBOLAND

Abstract

Gender equality has been raising serious academic and social discourse amongst scholars around the globe over the years. This has led to the emergence of a school of thought popularly known as “feminismâ€. Among the famous feminist scholars was the French feminist, Simone de Beauvoir, who argued on the rights and equality of women amongst their men counterparts. The feminists advocate the rights and equality of women amongst men. As the ideal of equality is conceptualized globally, and enshrined in the conventions of most international organizations such as the United Nations, as appeared amongst the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) items. Hence, realizing this has been considered a serious challenge in Igboland of Nigeria. The challenge seems to be predicated on what we can simply describe as the “pseudo-dignity of women†in Igboland. Applying analytic method, we shall analyze the concepts of gender equality and inequality in relation to the feminists’ views. We also give a global understanding of gender equality as contained in the projections of the United Nations' Charter and SDGs. We argue that these rights, as projected by the feminist school of thought, are yet to find their place in Igboland of Nigeria due to the "pseudo-dignity" of women. We also contend that the Igbo people of Nigeria do not disregard womanhood, its dignity and equality with men, but that women disregard themselves by distorting their own womanhood.