This study explored the legal analysis of gender discrimination and women development in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to investigate the relationship between employment gender discrimination and women empowerment in Bayelsa State, Nigeria; to investigate the relationship between educational gender discrimination and women empowerment in Bayelsa State, Nigeria; to investigate the relationship between political gender discrimination and women empowerment in Bayelsa State, Nigeria and to investigate the relationship between religious gender discrimination and women empowerment in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study anchored on gender stratification theory and cross sectional research design was adopted with a target population of employed women and a sample size of 385 of formal sector employees was determined using Cochran standard formula. Primary and secondary sources of data were used. The primary data utilised a well structured questionnaire as a source of data collection after validity and reliability tests and the responses obtained from the administered questionnaires were analysed using univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis and the multiple regression model suggested a positive and significant relationship between employment gender discrimination and women empowerment in Bayelsa State, Nigeria; a positive and significant relationship between educational gender discrimination and women empowerment in Bayelsa State, Nigeria; a positive and significant relationship between political gender discrimination and women empowerment in Bayelsa State, Nigeria; and a positive and significant religious gender discrimination and women empowerment in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. On the basis of the findings, the study concluded that gender discrimination positively and significantly impact on women development in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Therefore, on the basis of conclusion, the study recommended amongst others that women should be given proper knowledge in terms of education and raising awareness about gender discrimination and its effects on women development. Also, the government should implement policies that promote gender equality.
Keywords: economic and political empowerment, gender discrimination, women development
