Colonialism and the Changing Nature of Gender Relations in Southern Nigeria: A Case Study of the Igbo Society
Keywords:
Gender, Relationship, Pre-colonial, Colonialism, DevelopmentAbstract
In various pre-colonial African societies, men and women played significant roles that contributed to the growth and development of these societies. Studies indicate that these roles were complementary; both genders had defined rights, privileges, and responsibilities, which they exercised to enhance the prosperity of the society and the well-being of its inhabitants. These roles fostered gender relations in which both parties recognised their spheres of influence and boundaries. Pre-colonial gender relationships fostered an amicable society and gender complementarity. Apart from the domestic roles women played, they were also politically active and religiously powerful. Unfortunately, the fortunes of women began to decline during the colonial period as they were tactically silenced. As part of the factors in the relegation of women, men were first introduced to Western education, while women were made to stay at home to attend to the needs of the men. This paper, therefore, sees colonialism as the disruptor of the harmonious gender relations. The analyses are anchored in postcolonial theory. The paper concludes that gender complementarity is the road map to the growth and development of society. The methodology adopted in this discourse is a multidisciplinary approach, using both primary and secondary sources.
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