Abstract

We set out in this long essay to examine the extent to which Nkengong Nkengasong’s The Widow’s Might is used as a tool for gender empowerment. The research that the female gender has been neglected in the society and is based on the contention that some actions needs to be put in place in other to create a balance.

The feminist critical theory is used in this study and the conclusions drawn from the study are that the measures that have been put in place for empowerment has not been very effective as these stereotypes continue. This is more so as empowering gender is intrinsically essentially linked to development and is vital to the realization of human right.

Introduction

Gender refers to the social attribute and opportunities associated with being male and female, the relationships between women and men, girls and boys, and the relations between women and between men. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and learned through the socialization processes. They are context-/time- specific and changeable.

Gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman or a man in a given context. In must societies there are differences and inequalities between women and men in decision making opportunities, responsibilities, assigned, activities undertaken and access to and control over resources. Gender is part of the broader sociocultural context.

Other class, race, poverty level, ethnic group and age. Gender can also be expressed through identity and expression. That is, the ways in which a person identifies and how they express themselves according to their gender roles, self-image, appearances. One’s sex (male, female intersex just to mention a few) is usually assigned at birth based on one’s physical biology. One’s gender (male, female, genderqueer just to mention a few) is one’s internal sense of self and identity. One’s gender expression (that is masculine, feminine just to mention a few) is how one embodies gender attributes, presentation, roles and more.

Though this study will be limited to the female and male gender. From the above mentioned gender types, it is evident that gender has evolved overtime, and might continue as time passes.

Douglas D. Perkins’ work entitled “Empowerment”(27),defines empowerment as a collective rather than just an individual process. It is no doubt important for individuals to take control over their fears, additions, and other self-destructive or socially disruptive thoughts and behaviors. It is also an intentional ongoing process centered in the local community, involving mutual respect, critical reflection, caring, and group participation through which people lacking an equal share of valued resources gain greater access to and control over these resources; or a process by which people gain control over their lives, democratic participation in the life of their community, and a critical understanding of their environment.

Gender Empowerment is conceived as a process by which women can overcome many of the hurdles that they face such as education, work status, employment opportunities, health care, social security, position in decision making by virtue of their gender. Thus gender empowerment implies empowerment of women to do away with “Subordination” or “discrimination” and “injustice” done to them in male dominated society.

Background of study

Ehrhardt, Sawires, McGovern in a work titled “Gender Empowerment, and Health: What Is It? How Does It Work? (1), empowerment is described as the key to rectifying the gender imbalance. Luttrell et al define empowerment as “a progression that helps people gain control over their own lives and increases the capacity of people to act on issues that they themselves define as important”. In the case of gender, this means both sexes having equal control of their lives. The empowerment of women can benefit all members of society. Gender parity gives both men and women increased power; although achieving it requires men to relinquish their power over women and the benefits they possess this sacrifice in terms of overall quality of life improvement”.

The Pradesh Government in a “Development Report” adds that though Gender empowerment is empowering people of every gender, the concept focuses more on the female than the male gender. It is conceived as a process by which women can overcome many of the hurdles and problems they face such as education, work status, employment opportunities, health care , social security, position, decision making by virtue of their gender.

This implies that gender empowerment is veritably the empowerment of women to do away with “Subordination” or “discrimination” and “injustices” done to them by male dominated society”. Considering the problem of imbalance between both sexes, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in order to measure and calculate gender balance, introduced the GEM (Gender Empowerment Measure).

The GEM is intended by the UNDP to reflect on gender inequalities in key areas of political and economic participation and decision making. Gender Empowerment is recognized as both a complex and an elusive concept. These problems notwithstanding, the UNDP conceptualizes gender empowerment on the basis of three factors (i) economic participation and decision-making power (ii) power over economic resources.

The first of these factors is measured by the female and male shares of jobs classified as professional and technical and administrative and  managerial; the second by the shares of women and men in parliamentary seats and the  third by each of the group’s shares of earned income . Citing J. Ram Pillarisetti and Mark McGillivary (1978), they add that Societies with greater equality between men and women experience faster economic growth: increased agricultural productivity, improve food security just to mention a few. Empowering women like men to participate in and lead public and private institutions will make these institutions more effective.

Gender empowerment is the empowerment of people of every gender. USAID (U.S Agency for International Development) believes that the world can be peaceful, prosperous when men, boys, women, and girls enjoy equal economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights which can be attained through the empowerment of people of these genders.

Definition of Key Terms

The two terms worth defining in this study are Gender and Empowerment.

Md. Obaidullah Siam in his “Meaning and definition of Gender: An Analysis” defines gender as a range of characteristics be relevant to, and distinguish between masculinity and femininity. Depending on the perspective, these characteristics may include biological sex (that is the state of being male, female, or an intersex variation), sea-based social structures (that is gender roles), or gender binary, having two genders (boys/men and girls/women).

Those who exist outside these groups fall under the umbrella term non-binary or genderqueer. Some societies have specific genders besides “man and woman”. Such as hÿras of South Asia; these are often referred to as third genders (and fourth genders just to mention a few).

1. Leinbach, E. Hort, and Jennifer strayer in a work titled “Qualities Underlying the Definitions of Gender” (1), gender is considered as a “social category system based upon biological differences, but how do biological differences get translated into the specific and sometimes irrelevant beliefs about males and females that make up this category system? In their study they give answers to these questions.

Emily Esplen and Susie Jolly in a work titled “Gender and Sex: A sample of definitions”, (3), Gender refers to “array of socially constructed roles and relationships, personality traits, attitudes, behaviors, values relative power and influence that society ascribes to the two sexes on a differential basis. Whereas biological sex is determined by genetic and anatomical characteristics, gender is an acquired identity that is learned, changes over time, cultures. Gender is relational and refers not simply to women or men but to the relationship between them.

Ehrhardt, Sawires. MC Govern, in a work “Gender Empowerment, and Health; what is it? How does it work? (1), empowerment is described as key to rectifying the gender imbalance. They cite Luttrell et al who defines empowerment as a “progression that helps people gain control over their own lives and increase the capacity of people to act on issues that they themselves define as important, “the empowerment of women can benefit all members of society”.

Misdi, in an article “Empowerment in Mardrasah: What English Teaches have to say. (2017), empowerment is defined as “an interactive process that occurs between individuals and their environment. Citing Avidov Ungar, Friedman, and Olshatin (2014), Misdi defines empowerment “as a set of value attitudes and behaviors.

Citing Ashcroft, 1987 as cited in Avido-Ungai, Misdi, defines empowerment from a psychological point of view where “empowerment is meant to attain strength to perform the role with confidence: thus empowerment is a personal feeling of having confidence to perform the task.

Statement of Problem

Empowering gender is intrinsically essentially linked to sustainable development and is vital to the realization of human rights for all. Though the concept means empowerment of every gender, it mostly distressed the empowerment of female for equality/equity.

This is because women in society have not fully gained their rights and stand as their male counterparts. Stereotypes about women continue in some communities like in Africa some communities have not fully accepted the change. Unfortunately, women are subjected to I’ll treatment not only from their male counterparts, but also the socio-cultural aspects of it.

Research Questions

1. Gender presentation in Nkemngong Nkengasong’s the Window’s Might.
2. Gender equality and empowerment.

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