Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Gender-Based Discrimination has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with youth deviant behaviour. This growing interest reflects the recognition that gender-based discrimination does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria.

Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on gender-based discrimination, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with youth deviant behaviour, particularly within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about gender-based discrimination without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect youth deviant behaviour. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Gender-Based Discrimination on youth deviant behaviour in Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which gender-based discrimination influences youth deviant behaviour within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with gender-based discrimination in relation to youth deviant behaviour.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing gender-based discrimination in order to improve youth deviant behaviour.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of gender-based discrimination on youth deviant behaviour in Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does gender-based discrimination influence youth deviant behaviour within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with gender-based discrimination in relation to youth deviant behaviour?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize gender-based discrimination in order to improve youth deviant behaviour?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around youth deviant behaviour. For managers and practitioners within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how gender-based discrimination can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on sociology by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Gender-Based Discrimination and its relationship with youth deviant behaviour within the context of Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria. It reflects a clearly defined scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.