Gender, Ethnicity and Sustainable Development

Abstract

Gender and ethnicity are important social factors that influence the prospects for sustainable development in Nigeria. While gender norms are socially constructed and allot specific roles and rights to women and men, Nigeria’s ethnic diversity likewise influences access to political power, socio-economic resources and sustainable development opportunities. These interconnected social dimensions complement each other in creating room for marginalisation that deepens citizens’ vulnerability and limits their capacity to contribute to, or benefit from, sustainable development in Nigeria. This study is descriptive and explanatory. It adopts a qualitative approach, reviews existing literature and secondary data, and applies Crenshaw’s intersectionality framework to examine how gender and ethnicity jointly influence the achievement of sustainable development in Nigeria, focusing on the overlapping barriers to political participation, security, and economic resources experienced by women from ethnic minorities. The study shows that women and ethnic minorities (marginalised groups) are largely restricted in participating in policy-making, governance and the implementation of development programmes. This becomes dire where gender and ethnic identities intersect, resulting in deeper exclusion from State resources, economic opportunities, political representation and social services. The study further reveals that ethnic and gender-based discrimination perpetuates cycles of poverty, insecurity and inequality, thereby limiting sustainable development. The paper concludes that sustainable development cannot be effectively achieved in Nigeria amid the interaction of gender and ethnic marginalisation. The study therefore recommends adopting gender- and ethnicity-responsive policies, inclusive governance, stronger protection against gender- and ethnicity-based violence, and integrating equitable access to education and economic opportunities into Nigeria’s sustainable development policies.