IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 22, Issue 10, Ver. VI (October. 2017) PP 64-69 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0837-2210066469 www.iosrjournals.org 64 | Page The Influence of Patriarchy among Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria Alli Ganiyat Titilope 1 , Ummu Atiyah Ahmad Zakuan 1 , Nazariah Osman 1 , Oladipo Kolapo Sakiru 2 1 School of International Studies, University Utara Malaysia. 06010, Malaysia 2 Department of Human Resource Development, Universiti Putra Malaysia Abstract: Presently, Nigeria is battling with the glut of internal displacement and has not recorded enormous success in managing internally displaced persons. Apart from lack of basic amenities (food, shelter, health care) among the displaced persons, there are persistent reports and different studies on gender based violence in Internally Displaced camps in Nigeria. (rape, sexual violence, sexual exploitation, marginalization of women). However, the Nigerian society is patriarchal in nature that is the subjugation or relegation of women and this has reflected in the ways or methods displaced women are treated in IDPs camps. This paper attempts to examine the influence of patriarchy among internally displaced persons by evaluating the dimensions of displaced persons and the subordination, oppression and marginalization of internally displaced women, earlier studies on internally displaced persons were analyzed and these are the data for this present study. This paper concludes that the government must provide basic amenities, an orientation/empowerment program for men and women and an effective body of law that discuss or deal with women in IDPs camps. Keywords- Internally Displaced Persons, Nigeria, Patriarchy, Sexual Violence, Women --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 28-09-2017 Date of acceptance: 14-10-2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. INTRODUCTION Gender role has been ascribed to a child from the moment of conception base on the child‟s sex. Patriarchy is a parasite that lives in the society, community or in the home as the case may be. The notion of male superiority in the society breeds nothing but derogation or exploitation of the opposite sex (female) by limiting the chances and not ensuring equality between both genders. In the words of Makama, patriarchy is a socially constructed idea and differentiation centered on sex which produces more benefits to the male gender while concurrently inserting severe awful restraints on the roles and actions of the female gender [1]. It is also postulated that the traditional system does not allow men to partake in domestic work which includes child upbringing or rearing, such tasks are regarded to be taken care by women. The male gender is regarded to have a special quality which the female gender lack that is strength, vitality, powerful, courageous, assertiveness and the capability to face challenges of the outside world [2]. However, Nigeria society is patriarchal in nature women consists half of the population in Nigeria and they play vital roles as homemaker, mothers‟ managers among others. Women has contributed and still contributing to all spheres of life in the society e.g. economic, political, productive and reproductive yet their participation in formal and informal organizations and procedures where decisions regarding the application of societal resources produced by both men and women are made, remains irrelevant [1]. The idea is women are meant to take care of the house and children while men are in charge of what is considered as activities outside the home or provider. Though previous works examine the occurrence of gender based violence in IDPs camps but, has not analyzed the influence of patriarchy among internally displaced persons in Nigeria. Women and children are the most vulnerable victims of internal displacement due to their exposure to sexual and gender based violence (rape, force marriage, infant marriage and sexual harassment [3]. Similarly, Women has been used by the Boko Haram group to upsurge insurgent consistency, carry out attacks, bargaining instrument with Nigerian government, used as reproductive agents. It has been noted that women are raped repeatedly to create a new generation of Boko Haram group [4]. Additionally, Human Right Watch affirms that women and girls displaced by Boko Haram insurgency are raped and sexually exploited. The Nigerian government does not provide adequate security to protect displaced women and girls in order to ensure they have access to basic needs and services or to sanction the abusers [5].