Domestic violence is prominent in Nigeria as in many parts of Africa.There is a deep cultural belief in Nigeria that it is socially acceptable to hit a woman to discipline a spouse.Cases of Domestic violence is on the high and shows no signs of reduction in Nigeria, regardless of the age, tribe, religion or even social status.
Domestic violence takes many forms including physical, sexual, emotional, and mental. Traditionally, domestic violence is committed against females. Common forms of violence against women in Nigeria are rape, acid attacks, molestation, wife beating, and corporal punishment.
The Nigerian government has taken legal proceedings to prosecute men who abuse women in several states.There is currently a push in Nigeria for federal laws concerning domestic violence and for a stronger national response and support for domestic violence issues.
Incidents of domestic violence in Nigeria include beatings, torture, acid baths, rape, and consequently, death. It is however, estimated that approximately one in every three women suffers domestic violence and Intimate Partner Violence from the hands of those who claim to love and supposedly, protect them. The menace is eating deep as most of the victims do not speak out about violations of their rights, a result of nonchalance, insensitivity, and negative response from their immediate family and society at large.
Recently a fast rising and promising Gospel Artiste died and she was alleged to have lose her life due to beatings from her husband.
It was reported that she (Osinachi Nwachukwu) suffered from the hands of her husband in silence and this made me wonder why most women would be abused severely but still keep on with the marriage.
In Nigeria, women would usually face physical violence at the hands of their loved ones, family members, and the society. The most common forms of this violence include rape, murder, slapping, and kicking. Some possible reasons given for this assaults include drunk state of spouses, financial issues resulting to cases of possible frustration, and the rejection of a sexual advances from the partner.
Relationship inequality is also a strong indicator of physical violence. High levels of wife beating occur when the woman is making more money than her husband. This has been attributed to the lack of control the male partner feels within the relationship.
Women also often link the perpetration of physical violence to husbands who are very controlling in nature.
Influencing factors
The social context of violence in Nigeria is based largely on its patriarchal society. Violence against a wife is seen as a tool that a husband uses to chastise his wife and to improve her. The common loss of women’s rights upon marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa and the implicit obedience and deference towards men is socially encouraged within their society.
Where a bride price is paid, it is common for the husband to believe that by paying the bride price, he now owns his wife, some are born out of the huge amount he paid as her dowry. The act of marriage is seen to give the husband full ownership of the woman. She surrenders the right to her body to him.
Other factors linked with domestic violence are lower socioeconomic classes, substance abuse, couple age disparity, unemployment and infertility.
WorthyRaph media went on a journey to the street of Ibadan just to get people’s opinion on this.
Kindly click on the link below to watch and don’t forget to drop your opinion also;
