GENDER INEQUALITY IN AFRICA: A RE-EXAMINATION OF CULTURAL VALUES.

Most African societies operate a patriarchal system of male headship and female submission in social relations and marriage. This means male headship and women submission are both cultural and religious values within African society. Since these values define the position and role of sexes within African societies, they also present challenges to the gender equality championed by modernity. This paper attempts to show how some cultural and religious values in Africa contribute to the problem of gender inequality. This paper maintains that these values should be critically assessed, and those found to be inimical to the well-being and holistic development of society, be discarded. In such a way, African culture and values can have their relevance established and sustained in order to give credence to authentic African identity. The paper adopts a philosophical method of critical analysis and exposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]