THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Abstract

This study examined the influence of sociocultural factors on women empowerment. It was carried out in Umeh Community of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State. The study adopted radical and cultural feminism as its theoretical framework. Questionnaire, ethnography and in-depth interview schedule were used to collect data from 400 respondents. The quantitative data were analysed in frequencies and percentages using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 while the qualitative data were analysed using manual thematic and content analysis. The findings of the study revealed that educational attainment of women is very low and that education contributes in raising the socioeconomic and political status of the few educated women in the study area. Again, the results indicated that tradition does not promote women property rights in the study area. It was therefore recommended among other things that efforts should be made by the government to provide education for the rural women, women should rise up to expectations and fight against the influence of sociocultural factors militating against their empowerment and the age-long inferior status the society bestows on them and that religious leaders should re-orientate the minds of their followers through doctrines and tenets contained in the religious texts that emphasise the equality of all beings to overcome and abolish patriarchy and adverse traditional practices that infringe on the rights of women.