EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTS IN THE DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN GIRL AND BOY CHILD IN THE HOME

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the study

gender discrimination is the social process by which men and women are not treated equally . the treatment may arise from distinctions regarding biology, psychology, or cultural norms prevalent in the society. Some of these distinctions are empirically grounded while others appear to be socially constructed.

Gender discrimination begins in early childhood and present in all stages of girls’ lives, which have a negative impact on their access to education at all levels, as well as on the capacity to use the benefits of education to improve their situation (UNICEF, 2009). Gender discrimination exists in Malawi and it negatively affects girls more than their male counterparts. The Global Gender Gap Report (2010) highlights social and economic indicators such as wage disparities, participation in the country’s development, access to secondary and tertiary education, enrollment ratios and literacy as the mirror problem of gender discrimination in Malawi. Although, girls and women are a major force in Malawi’s socio-economic activities and make up 52 percent of the population, serious gender disparities still exist (UNICEF, 2008).

A Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey done in Malawi by NSO and UNICEF (2006) showed that around 67 percent of women and girls are literate compared to 77 percent of men, despite there being gender parity in primary education more girls than boys drop out because of social values and behaviors that do not support girls’ education. Although the government has initiated 50/50 gender campaign aimed at promoting women participation in decision-making positions in public and private sectors, there has been little progress. Furthermore, Conventions on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) have been ratified but the issue of gender discrimination continues to haunt the nation

(UNICEF, 2010)

1.2  Statement of research problem

Despite the introduction of various Government and Non-governmental organizations’ policies and strategies aimed at streamlining gender disparities, the situation in the rural communities still remains a challenge (UN Malawi, 2010) and incidents of school dropouts involving school girls are on the increase particularly in the rural setting. Illiteracy rate is high among girls (MDG Report, 2010), thereby making them more susceptible to the vicious cycle of poverty, as they grow into adults. An overview of the situation reveals a gap in the approach to the problem, such that the causes and effects  have not been fully explored to a clear understanding of the extent of gender discrimination at local community level.

1.3  Objectives of the study

The primary objective of this study is as follows:

l  to find out the causes of gender discrimination against girl child in the home

l  To find out if governmental strategy and policy put in place to streamline gender discrimination have effect on parents.

l  To find out probable ways to reduce gender discrimination against girl child

1.4  Research questions

The following questions have been prepared by the researcher for this study

1.        Do you think gender discrimination have any effect on the growth of the girl child?

2.        Do you think governmental policies has helped streamline gender discrimination of the girl child?

3.        Do you think gender discrimination can be reduced in the home against girl child?

1.5  Research hypothesis

H1: gender discrimination does not affect the growth of girl child.

H2: government policy have not helped streamline gender discrimination against girl child:

1.6  Significance of the study

This study is significant because the influence of parents in the discrimination between girl and boy child in the home have been a issue that have not been studied enough.

The findings of this research work will undoubtedly provide the much needed information to government organizations, parents, individuals, NGOS, and academia

1.7  Scope of the study

This study intends to evaluate the influence of parents in the discrimination between girl and boy child in the home.  Hence, this study is delimited to parents in kano municipal local government area .

1.8  Limitations of the study

This study was constrained by a number of factors which are as follows:

 Financial constraint is inevitable considering the present economic situations. Due to lack of finance at the researchers disposal to get materials and in printing of questionnaires. it was not possible to visit some of the communities that have been plagued by bandit activities.

 In developing countries like Nigeria, there is the problem of insufficient data.

Time factor: time factor pose another constraint since having to shuttle between writing of the research and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the researcher 

1.9       Operational definition of terms

Evaluation: the making of a judgement about the amount or value of something

Influence:the capacity to have an effect on the character of someone or something.

Parents : a persons father or mother

Discrimination :the unjust treatment of different categories of people

Child :a young human being below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority.