Constraints to Gender Participation in Rural Community Development in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract This study examined emerging gender roles to participation strategies in rural community development in Abia State. A multistage sampling procedure was used in the selection of 120 households for the study. Data was analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that the mean age of the respondents was 50.5 years, 75.7% of them were married and had a mean household size of 6 persons. The average years spent in school by the respondents was 12 years, their major occupation was farming (52.4%) and monthly income was N65, 739. 00. Their major constraints in carrying out their self-help RCD were fund-raising problem (=3.2) and (=3.0), embezzlement of fund (=3.1) and (Â = 2.8), nonchalant attitude to accountability (=3.1) and (=2.5), mismanagement of fund (=3.1) and (=3.8) for the males and females respectively. Strategies employed by males and females for active participation were payment of fine due to non-participation in CD (=2.4) and (=2.5), praise/recommendation for participation (=2.4) and (=2.7), participants are allowed to enjoy full benefits of projects (=2.3) and (=2.6), appealing during meetings (=2.3) and (=2.2) and open rebuke =2.0) and (=2.0) respectively. A significant difference existed between RCD constraints of males and females in the areas of non-challant attitude to accountability (p<0.05, t=2.4) and politicization of projects (p<0.05, t = 2.2). There was also a significant difference between RCD strategies employed by males and females (p