International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue XI, November 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
Coping With the Consequences of Violence: Niger Delta Women and The Praxis of Survival
Idowu, Omowumi Omodunni & Owoeye, Taiwo
Department of Economics, Ekiti State University, Nigeria.
Abstract: The Niger delta region has become a theatre of violence and political conflicts over the years. This has been attributed to environmental degradation due largely to oil exploration and utter neglect by successive government in Nigeria. A major consequence of this development has been formation of violent groups, leading to clashes between militants and security operatives. By convention, men, in most traditional societies, serve as bread winners of households and thus are responsible for the care of families. Thus, the incessant killings, maiming and absence of Niger Delta men, due to violent activities have tended to shift the family responsibilities to their women. Using a case study of Oloibiri community in Ogbia local government of Bayelsa State, Nigeria, this study investigates how the women cope with the consequences of the violence and the effects of men involvement in violent conflict on family welfare. The study finds that the petty trade and agricultural activities are the main strategies of survival adopted by the Niger-delta women. Also, much as there are negative impacts of violent in the region, men involvements in violent improve family welfare and responsibilities are shifted to women. It is thus suggested that government should take steps in ending the violent and also provide incentives that can propel women empowerment in the region.
Keywords: Women, Consequences of Violent, Praxis of Survival, Niger Delta
I. INTRODUCTION
The Women of the Niger Delta are not different from their counterparts in the world, in spite of their number and important functions. The sex and social stratification of most cultures rank one gender (male) above the other (female). As a result, women tend to suffer various forms of neglect, discrimination, inequality and violence. Thus, it is paramount to know the plight of women generally in the world so as to comprehend the particular case of the Niger Delta women and their travail during and after the Niger Delta violent crises. Niger Delta Women perform certain economic responsibilities within the family; as care giver to the husband and the children, bread winner, chief food producer and as wage earners. This is due to the incidence of poverty and the pattern of intra house income distribution of the country which make them assume active financial role in their homes. A greater percentage of Niger Delta women are not educated and depend mainly on agricultural activities for livelihood (Inokoba and Imbua, 2010). Coastal ridge barriers, mangrove and fresh water swamp forests combine with the soil types, water, climate, plants, animals and the overall ecosystem dictate the extent and type of activities women can engage in the Niger Delta (Justino, 2006)
There are two incontrovertible facts about the Niger Delta region (i) It is a region of strategic importance to both domestic