Dr Ahukanna Henry Ndubuisi
Abstract
The paper addresses gender and women development studies. Gender is a unique sociocultural identity that reflects an individual’s preferred sexuality. Common gender identities in the contemporary society include male gender, female gender, transgender, gender neutral, non-binary, agender, pangender, genderqueer, two-spirit and third gender inter alia. Issues emerging from gender in the contemporary society are many and they include gender bias, gender inequality, gender integration, gender stereotyping and gender based violence. In all, women are the most affected by the identified gender issues. Women are deemed to be the weaker vessels. They are usually the prime targets of gender based violence and allied malevolence in human societies; hence the need for women developement studies. Women development studies has grown to be a remarkable field in the contemporary society. It is concerned with practical and tactical ways of improving on the quality of life of women. Following a synoptic survey of gender and women development studies in Africa, the researcher made some recommendations among which was that efforts should be made to give women more opportunity for self-development for adjustment purposes.