The Gender Truth Journal

Gender Taboos and Homophobia in Unoma Azuah’s Embracing My Shadow: Growing Up Lesbian in Nigeria.

2025-07-28T19:34:56+00:00

In sexual politics, queer is a concept that describes atypical sexual
preferences and descriptive of a minority that do not subscribe to the
conventional gender heterosexual identity. The Nigerian society like many
other heteronormative societies is fixated in its delineation and acceptance
of sexuality and gender. Non-conformity by anyone to the same means can
subject you to any form of homophobia. Nigeria has a queer community.
However, legislation in Nigeria still prohibits homosexual relations,
prescribing as much as fourteen years imprisonment as punishment for
this in Nigeria’s Criminal Code Act. With diverse calls for the respect of
human rights across the globe, Nigeria and Africa at large still cringes
at the knowledge of a queer identity and treat same as socio-culturally
alien. Thus, this paper examines the emergent concept of queer in
Nigerian literature and the relationship between queerness and selfhood in Embracing My Shadow: Growing up Lesbian in Nigeria using the Queer
theory. The study finds that, Unoma Azuah’s portrayal of queer characters
in her memoir and Unoma’s several attempts at asserting her queerness as
a personal identity is consistent with ongoing agitation for LGBTQ rights.
It argues that Azuah’s narrative is contextualised within a social space with
structures that challenge queer as an emerging norm of being. The paper
has therefore argued that Nigeria’s queer literature and the possibility of
queer’s search for selfhood and domesticity in Nigeria is characterised
by taboos and limits that attest to the complexity of the society and its
espoused sexual norms.

Building on the Theory of the Comfort Zone of Gender Inequality: Analysis of Survey Findings

2025-07-28T21:01:11+00:00

Despite centuries of efforts to end gender inequality (GI), the world is still
not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030. No country has achieved
gender parity, and it is not likely that an additional 15 years at the end of
2030 (what can be called “Progressive Sustainable Development Goals –
P-SDGs”) will do the magic by 2045. The World Economic Forum Global
Gender Gap report 2024 made it clear that at the current rate of progress,
full gender parity will not be reached until the year 2158. Based on the
foregoing, the central argument of this paper is that gender inequality has
persisted because it is a comfort zone for men. It is a place where men prefer
to stay because of the benefits to them, regardless of the consequences for
the disadvantaged group (women). Two main research questions, among
other questions, addressed in this paper are: is gender inequality a comfort
zone for men, and if yes, what is your understanding of gender inequality
in line with the comfort zone thesis? Using survey data, this paper builds
on the theory of the comfort zone of gender inequality, which was first
advanced by Osondu-Oti (2024) in an article titled “The Comfort Zone
of Gender Inequality: A Reflection.” Findings from this survey affirm
that gender inequality is a comfort zone for men, especially those with “authoritative power”- the main beneficiaries of gender inequality. In line
with the comfort zone thesis, findings from the survey show that gender
inequality is a rational choice because of men’s fear of losing power and
authority in both private and public domains. Gender inequality also puts
men in an advantageous position where they feel more at ease and in
control, and being that it is familiar terrain, they are reluctant to leave their
comfort zone. It is therefore recommended that more awareness be created
about gender inequality being a comfort zone for “men,” so that advocates
of gender equality, including feminist movements and scholars, can engage
in a stronger push for equality. This is because these men are less likely to
be committed to the struggle for gender equality, since they are in their
“hegemonic palace” with the comfort therein. In addition, more practical
commitments by organisations to the empowerment of women and girls
are needed more than ever, especially investing in girl-child education.
Education is power, and it remains the first and a crucial step that will
guarantee more placement of women in positions of authority in the years
to come, as authoritative power is still less available to women.

Gendered Dimensions on Migration: Exploring Socio-Economic Drivers, Experiences, and Policy Implications in Nigeria

2025-07-28T19:44:24+00:00

This paper explores the gendered dimensions of migration in Nigeria,
examining how socio-economic drivers, experiences, and policy
implications differ for women and men. Drawing upon feminist migration
theory and neoclassical economic perspectives, the study analyzes gender-specific
migration patterns, assesses the impact of existing policies, and
identifies support mechanisms for migrants of different genders. By
adopting a qualitative research approach, the study draws on empirical
data, policy documents, and interviews to highlight the unique experiences
of different genders in migration. The findings reveal significant disparities
in the motivations and vulnerabilities of male and female migrants,
emphasizing the need for gender-sensitive policies, with women often
motivated by factors such as family reunification and escape from violence,
while economic opportunities primarily drive men. The migration journey
presents distinct challenges for each gender, with women facing heightened
risks of exploitation and violence. Post-migration, women often encounter
barriers to labour market integration and face challenges in balancing
family responsibilities with economic pursuits. The study emphasizes the
need for gender-responsive migration policies that address the unique
needs and vulnerabilities of female migrants, promote gender equality, and
ensure equitable access to opportunities for all migrants.

Social Media and Gender Equality: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice

2025-07-28T20:49:10+00:00

Issues of gender representation and visibility on various social media
platforms and access to specific roles, responsibilities, tasks, and privileges,
as well as gender portrayal, have been on the international agenda since
the 1990s, raising concerns about news media diversity and accessibility.
Construction of gender goes on today through various technologies and
individual discourses with the power to control the field of social meaning
and thus produce, promote, and ‘implant’ representations of gender.
Therefore, this study examined the influence of social media on the
knowledge, attitude, and practice of gender equality among residents of
Oyo State. The study is anchored on Technological Determinism Theory.
The study adopts an analytical survey research design. The instrument
of data collection for the study was a self-designed questionnaire. The
findings of the study revealed that Residents of Oyo State became highly
knowledgeable about gender equality through various social media
platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn, which means that they are familiar with all the necessary factors related to
gender equality. Findings also highlight that Residents of Oyo State have
affirmative attitudes towards gender equality. In line with the findings of
this research and other studies reviewed, it is concluded that social media
remains a platform that can go a long way to promote gender equality in
Nigeria and the world at large. It is recommended that the Government,
Non-governmental organisations, and international NGOs should tap
into the opportunities by devising the use of social media, actionable
programmes, and policies to promote equality between genders.

Assessing the Impacts of Participatory Communication in Promoting Girl-Child Education in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja

2025-07-28T20:35:00+00:00

This study examines the impact of participatory communication in
promoting girl-child education in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
Abuja, Nigeria. The research is conducted in two phases, integrating
both qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a comprehensive
understanding of how participatory communication strategies influence
access, retention, and academic success among girls in FCT. The first phase
focuses on gathering qualitative insights through focus group discussions
(FGDs) and in-depth interviews with educators, parents, policymakers, and
students, capturing lived experiences and perceptions on communicationdriven
educational advocacy. The second phase employs a quantitative
survey to assess the statistical significance of participatory communication
initiatives on girl-child education, analysing variables such as enrollment
rates, classroom participation, and community involvement. Findings
indicate that community-driven dialogue, interactive media programmes,
and inclusive decision-making significantly enhance awareness and reduce
socio-cultural barriers that hinder female education. The study concludes
that participatory communication serves as a crucial tool in fostering
educational inclusivity, recommending policy frameworks that integrate
grassroots communication strategies to enhance girl-child education in FCT
Abuja. These findings contribute to existing literature by emphasising the role of communication in addressing educational disparities and advocating for sustainable interventions to bridge the gender gap in education.

A “Her-Storical” Conceptualization of the “Umuada” Traditional Institution of Eastern Nigeria

2025-07-28T20:08:53+00:00

This study explores a sociocultural organization of women in Eastern
Nigeria through the lens of feminist and historical scholarship. The aim is
to examine the historical evolution, roles, and contributions of the Umuada
within their communities, particularly in conflict resolution, cultural
preservation, and socioeconomic development. Utilizing a qualitative
methodology, the research draws from oral histories, archival records,
and ethnographic observations to provide a nuanced understanding of
the institution. The findings reveal that the Umuada, far from being a
peripheral group, have played pivotal roles as custodians of traditions,
mediators in family and communal disputes, and advocates for women’s
rights within the patriarchal structure of Igbo society. Despite these contributions, the study highlights the challenges posed by modernity, urbanization, and diminishing communal ties to the relevance and
functionality of the institution. Major conclusions emphasize the need to
reimagine and integrate the Umuada into contemporary frameworks for
community development and gender advocacy, by ensuring their sustained
impact in a rapidly changing sociocultural landscape. By foregrounding
the experiences and agency of these women, the study contributes to the
broader discourse on African feminism and indigenous knowledge systems.