Gender Differences in Rural Dwellers’ Involvement in Developmental Projects in Osun State

Abstract

Rural development is the integrated approach to food production as well as physical, social and institutional infrastructural provisions with an ultimate goal of bringing about both quantitative and qualitative changes which result in improved living standard of the rural population. The study was conducted to investigate gender difference of rural dwellers’ involvement in rural development projects in Atakunmosa-west Local Government area of Osun State. It also described the demographic characteristics of the respondents, identified different rural developmental projects undergone by the respondents, showed the problems associated with their involvement and determined the men and women perceived benefits of their involvement. Data were collected with the aid of well-structured questionnaire and were administered to 60 males and 60 females in 6 communities. A multi stage random sampling technique was employed in the selection of respondents and data analysis was by the use of SPSS. Some of the findings revealed that men were well involved and women were poorly involved in development projects. Majority of respondents were Christians, were not youths and married. All the respondents encountered one problem or the other during their involvement in rural developmental projects and at the same time perceived many benefits from their involvement. It was recommended among others, that women should be encouraged to be actively involved in physical development activities by giving them adequate recognition and attention so that they can have that sense of belonging. Government and non-governmental organization should introduce more gender responsive projects to rural areas, in order to ensure active and equal involvement of both men and women.