Cultural Beliefs and the Challenges of Women Participation in Nigerian Politics

This paper interrogates the implication of the cultural beliefs that men are naturally superior to women which enhances the chances of male domination over female. To achieve this, secondary sources of data were used and cultural theory o; politics was use as a theoretical underpinning to investigate,,ine root causes of the issue. The paper found that patriarchy and ideological belief that women are inferior has no justification and goes contrary to reality. In general, it is obvious from the study that, adequate women political participation cannot be realized only through targeted projects, affirmative action and enactment of discrimination laws that seek to place women in leadership positions. Women political empowerment must not be reduced to measuring the number of women in the legislature or the ministerial appointment. But the society must uncover the hidden biases and practices that limit women's ability to enjoy equal rights and opportunities as well as find the most culturally appropriate means to support women's capacities to drive social change in the society. The paper recommends that real change may not be possible without a change in the cultural and structural formation of a society. This change, to a larger extent, could be achieved through the practice of effective communication which is a tool for conscientization and radical social action.