By Yusuf Abdulbasit Hozaifah
The term 'depressed' in fact rests on general knowledge on which the whole subject matter of economics is based.
We can as well said that depressed countries are underdeveloped because, in some way or another, they have not yet succeeded in making full use of their potential for economic growth.
Nigeria has for some time now been deteriorating in terms of progress and economic development. As a result of the depressed economy, the cost of living is very high, and has increased unemployment.
Women in this context means any female human being irrespective of her age. Traditionally the fundamental purpose of women is to flower into motherhood which subjects them to oppression and lack of respectable identity.
In traditional Nigerian society, women are treated as mere objects, she is to provide the home with a proper atmosphere of culture and love.
The state of the economy is daily increasing the poverty of women more than those of men. The depressed economy has created more problems for women, women do more brain work, perform more physical activities and are therefore more depressed in these hard times.
In Nigeria, many women are involved in income-generating activities, and In most households, women have become breadwinners.
The dark ages when women were considered as non-contributory or contributing little towards the development of the families and society have passed, Now the situation in our towns and villages is no longer like that, apart from their quest to generate income sustainably and on their own to become economically self-reliance, they also contribute to the achievement of the nation to tree planting and have organized themselves into clubs and societies.
The increase in the economic activity of women in Nigeria is a widespread reality. Throughout Nigeria, women dominated the unskilled labor force, as indirect heads of households providing for their nuclear and extended family even though they have not achieved occupational equality with Men.
The case of unemployment in the labor market has not Chased off women from jobs but rather has drawn them to work more than yesterday and to work longer than ever before. They are becoming more involved in micro small and medium enterprises and their income is becoming increasingly necessary to all households.
EFFECTS OF DEPRESSED ECONOMY ON FAMILIES AND SOCIETY
The majority of Nigerian families are afraid that they don't eat a balanced diet, they live in substandard and dangerous environments they have no access to clear, clean, and safe water, and society's health is not taken care of anymore.
A depressed economy causes a low standard of living with non- correspondent increase in women's income. The phenomenon is responsible for the incidence of poverty, unemployment, financial problems, exploitation of women by men, tension and frustration, crime prejudice, and drug addiction in the houses.