GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to examine gender stereotypes, role differentiation and its effect on the trend and pattern of social allocation to men and women in Akwa Ibom State area. The study revealed that even though biological categorization of humans is vital, in reality, it is the culturally constructed gender differentiation into masculinity and feminity that is most fundamental in defining what roles male and female play in society. It is obvious that male roles are highly valued and rewarded than female roles. This division of roles along gender lines placed women in under privileged position in terms of power, prestige and wealth. This paper therefore adopted a historical descriptive method as its methodology to highlight the practice in Akwa Ibom area and found out that gender stereotypes restricts the life chances of female. The study noticed that changing institutional arrangements occasioned by the gradual weakening of harmful cultural practices due to introduction of Christianity and western education, tends to alter the social structures in favour of women in contemporary Akwa Ibom Society. One of the recommendations made in the study was that, there is need for a change in the value system in order to improve the outlook of the female gender as a significant and major contributor to growth and development.

KEYWORDS: Extended Family System, Changing Fortunes, Gender, Stereotype and Akwa Ibom State.