GENDER INEQUALITY AND THE STATUS OF WIDOWS IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1        Background of the study
Women constitute about half of the population of the Nigerian State and are known to play vital roles as mothers, producers, managers, community developers/organizers etc. Their contribution to the social and economic development of societies is also more than half as compared to that of men by virtue of their dual roles in the productive and reproductive spheres. Yet their participation in formal and informal structures and processes, where decisions regarding the use of societal resources generated by both men and women are made, remains insignificant. Gender inequality in our society today, is among the most prevalent forms of social inequality which exists all over the world. These differences are primarily due to cultural legacies, historical development, geographical location and religious norms which pre-dominate the society.  Nmah (2003) is of the view that the resultant weakness of gender inequality has deprived women of the strength to rise up and insist on a change in their environment for the sake of their families and children. Women fear the difficulties of living without a male companion in a