Effectiveness of Gender-Awareness Therapy in Addressing Issues Stemming from Gender Inequality and Promoting Individual Freedom of Choice in Rivers State

Abstract

This study examined Effectiveness of gender-awareness therapy in addressing issues stemming from gender inequality and promoting individual freedom of choice in Rivers State. Descriptive research design was used for the study. The researcher formulated two objectives of the study two research questions and two hypotheses that guided the study. The population for this study consisted of all members of Rivers State Counselling Association of Nigeria with the population of 373 members. The researcher made use of quota sampling, which is a non-probability sampling technique that ensures that a representative proportion of individuals, objects, or traits are selected as sample. Only the 93 members from the 3 selected Universities in Rivers State who are members of the counselling association were used for the study. The instrument used for data collection was self-structured questionnaire. The research instrument was subjected to face validation by the researcher’s supervisor and two other experts in Measurement and Evaluation, all from the Faculty of Education, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.  To ascertain the reliability of the study, the researcher adopted the test-retest method.  The instrument was administered and collated with the help of two trained research assistants and analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions while the hypotheses where tested using t-test statistical tool at 0.05 level of significance. Based on the analysis, the findings of the study revealed that gender-awareness therapy helped individuals recognize internalized gender stereotypes, challenge harmful beliefs and build self-confidence in Rivers State. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that, government, through the Rivers State Counselling Association of Nigeria should organize workshop for parents on gender-awareness therapy, government and non-governmental organization should organize seminar for the citizens on the importance of gender-awareness therapy.