Feminism and family abuse in Nigeria

This study examines the dilemma of family abuse and the struggle to integrate women into political leadership and economic development in Nigeria. It argues that, whether expressed as wife battery or female circumcision, the right to abuse women amounts to social control. This study further presents some theoretical perspectives on the role of women in a nation's development processes. It stresses that both wife battery and female circumcision should be considered human rights abuses because, whatever their arguable value, they both effectively limit the ability of women to participate in life as fully functioning human beings. Given a labor force and culture embedded with male dominance, is the present role of women in Nigerian society the best possible one for the country? The concluding section calls for government policies that will effectively reduce family abuse and integrate women's interests and social expectations into those of the nation, and create opportunities for broad economic, social and political participation for all Nigerian women.