An Examination of Decision-making Ability as Source of Empowerment Among the Ijesa Women of Osun State, Nigeria

The issue of decision-making ability is paramount to women’s empowerment. Studies have assessed the role of women’s autonomy in decision–making, and have considered the resources needed to alter or circumvent restrictions on this autonomy at many cultural and institutional levels. Research, policy debate, and action programmes are beginning to recognise the centrality of gender–based power relationships in influencing the decision–making processes among women. This paper examined the decision making ability among the Ijesa women as a source of their empowerment. In other words, this paper examined women’s ability to make larger purchases, their involvement in major decisions, relative freedom from domination within the family, women’s political and legal awareness, participation in public protests and political campaigns, and their level of economic security as sources of women’s empowerment in Ijesaland of southwest Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design using quantitative technique was employed. A multistage sampling technique, which involved purposive selection of four Local Government Areas (LGAs) with the predominance of the Ijesa was used. A random selection of 17 enumeration areas and 1,594 ever- married women of childbearing age was carried out using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, that is, frequencies and percentages. The findings revealed that out of the six decision making variables considered in the paper, the respondents were found to have low decision making ability on two areas, namely participation in public protest and political campaign and economic security. The paper reveals that ability to make large purchases is the strongest of the sources of women’s empowerment. The weakest is participation in public protests and political campaigns. The paper concluded that Ijesa women have relatively high level of decision making ability on issues concerning them, their household, and the society at large. Keywords: Decision making, women empowerment, Ijesa, Autonom