Benue State University, Makurdi

The Nexus Between Gender Bias And Gender Socialization Of The Girl Child In Nigeria

Esther Anenge Gbaden

Abstract

At birth, nature has made it that boys and girls present differences in terms of their physiology. By virtue of nurture, they are socialized differently with boys being brought up to see themselves as above the girls. This scenario has manifested in educational attainment and choices of work, with the female gender also on the losing end. The chapter examined the nexus between gender bias and gender socialization of the girl child in Nigeria. Symbolic international theory was used in the study. The paper adopted secondary sources of information for data collection. It was found that gender bias manifests in terms of child preferences, unequal access to food, health, and education. It was stated that the girl as a human being has the fundamental right to live, grow and to bloom; this can only be possible if she is given an enabling environment. The premium placed on the girl and her value as passed on to the young of every society will determine whether the conception and birth of a girl child would be celebrated and if she gets to be nurtured socially, physically, psychologically and of course given the chance to be well nourished, educated and consequently work a career of choice; or if she will continue to be seen as a second-class citizen. Ultimately if gender bias against the girl child is to be stopped then a lot needs to be done. When the girl-child is given an opportunity to develop her potentials and have choices, there are benefits to the society at large and the girl-child, including good health and quality of life. The work suggested for strengthening the role of the family in improving the status of the girl; where this is provided, gender socialization of children would be done away with by parents and caregivers. It should be noted that what differentiates the girl-child from the boy-child is biological and not social.

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