Violence against woman is becoming a worldwide issue. The prevalence rate of Gender base violence is on the increase .This phenomenon knows no barrier as it cut across communities, ethnicity , religions ,education etc. On a daily basis,
women are violated in one way or the other .Gender base abuse might be physical, emotional, economical , educational or otherwise.
The media is awash with cases of violence against women. The injunction that women must be submissive to the man is oftentimes misinterpreted and bastardized. When men demands submission from women they must be prepared to be honest, just and understanding whether in marriage or otherwise. In the societal settings, women must be regarded as partners and not as second fiddle who must be seen and not heard. Even in urban and developed areas, societies has made several laws that trample on the right of women , it is pertinent at this point to highlight certain situations where women became scapegoat for unacceptable societal norms. In most traditional African societies, teenage pregnant girls are ostracised, ridiculed,humiliated and in extreme cases banished from their immediate communities.
In almost all the cases, the man responsible for such pregnancy is completely ignored or exonerated while the education or career of the unfortunate girl is punctuated, that of the man continuous unhindered.
The story of Jessica (Real name withheld) will suffice at this point. Jessica had always been known as a very happy and jolly good fellow. She is the fifth child in a family of ten children comprising of six girls and four boys. Four of her elder sisters had already tasted the bitter pills of societal shame and humiliation arising from teenage pregnancy. Herself and her younger sister became the hope of the family .The mother constantly drums into their ears the need to enter into marriage honourably and to help wipe of the shame brought to the the need for them not to tow the lines of their elder sisters so that they can launder the name of the family . It was not surprising when the mother readily agreed to Jessica's uncle request to take her along to the big city so that he could enrol her in a better school. While in the big city Jessica was constantly in touch with the mother and younger sister. Her frequent advises to her younger sister was always a soothing relief to her mother each time she called.
On a bright afternoon, as Jessica called hoping to hear the reassuring voice of her mother and to encourage the younger sister as usual. This happy young girl life was completely shattered and demoralized with the news that the younger sister was pregnant. The pregnancy was noticed by a well known community woman leader who did not waste time to summon the girl and the mother before the council of women leaders as the culture demands, the family was Mandated to pay the sum of #50.000 to appease the gods and also to prepare for subsequent banishment .Ironically however,the boy who pregnanted her was never summoned nor requested to pay any fine
This is a clear case of woman inflicting pain on fellow women.
Violence against women should not only be seen as a case being champion against women by men. woman's injustice to fellow woman can be a very painful and excruciating experience.
Harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation, breast ironing and banishment etc are all known to be executed by the woman folks
For women to boldly demand for a halt to all forms gender base violence, there is need for self evaluation so as to arrest every forms of violence aagainst women initiated by fellow woman.
women are violated in one way or the other .Gender base abuse might be physical, emotional, economical , educational or otherwise.
The media is awash with cases of violence against women. The injunction that women must be submissive to the man is oftentimes misinterpreted and bastardized. When men demands submission from women they must be prepared to be honest, just and understanding whether in marriage or otherwise. In the societal settings, women must be regarded as partners and not as second fiddle who must be seen and not heard. Even in urban and developed areas, societies has made several laws that trample on the right of women , it is pertinent at this point to highlight certain situations where women became scapegoat for unacceptable societal norms. In most traditional African societies, teenage pregnant girls are ostracised, ridiculed,humiliated and in extreme cases banished from their immediate communities.
In almost all the cases, the man responsible for such pregnancy is completely ignored or exonerated while the education or career of the unfortunate girl is punctuated, that of the man continuous unhindered.
The story of Jessica (Real name withheld) will suffice at this point. Jessica had always been known as a very happy and jolly good fellow. She is the fifth child in a family of ten children comprising of six girls and four boys. Four of her elder sisters had already tasted the bitter pills of societal shame and humiliation arising from teenage pregnancy. Herself and her younger sister became the hope of the family .The mother constantly drums into their ears the need to enter into marriage honourably and to help wipe of the shame brought to the the need for them not to tow the lines of their elder sisters so that they can launder the name of the family . It was not surprising when the mother readily agreed to Jessica's uncle request to take her along to the big city so that he could enrol her in a better school. While in the big city Jessica was constantly in touch with the mother and younger sister. Her frequent advises to her younger sister was always a soothing relief to her mother each time she called.
On a bright afternoon, as Jessica called hoping to hear the reassuring voice of her mother and to encourage the younger sister as usual. This happy young girl life was completely shattered and demoralized with the news that the younger sister was pregnant. The pregnancy was noticed by a well known community woman leader who did not waste time to summon the girl and the mother before the council of women leaders as the culture demands, the family was Mandated to pay the sum of #50.000 to appease the gods and also to prepare for subsequent banishment .Ironically however,the boy who pregnanted her was never summoned nor requested to pay any fine
This is a clear case of woman inflicting pain on fellow women.
Violence against women should not only be seen as a case being champion against women by men. woman's injustice to fellow woman can be a very painful and excruciating experience.
Harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation, breast ironing and banishment etc are all known to be executed by the woman folks
For women to boldly demand for a halt to all forms gender base violence, there is need for self evaluation so as to arrest every forms of violence aagainst women initiated by fellow woman.
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