Gender

 GENDER

Gender based violence is not just a physical abuse. It can take emotional, psychological economy and social dimension. 

It should be noted that gender based violence. Cut across both sexes a lot of men have been victims of abuse, harassment and even physical torture from their fellow men and in some exceptional cases women. 

  But for the purpose of this piece I’ll be spreading my net across the female gender. Female gender based violence  Is a worm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of this world, aside from the economy, political and social crisis, gender based violence has distorted the shifts and development of a girl child in this nation

Facts have proven that 27% of Nigerian women between the ages of 15 and 49 are victims of female genital mutilation these kind of societies see women as an integral part of their tradition and cultural identity. It is associated with some cultural norms and religious rights. 

Another ravaged issues associated with the female gender is the gender based violence, 30% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 have experienced sexual, physical, emotional and verbal abuse, gender discrimination, poor coordination of women in political and economy affair. 

According to Child Marriage Council, child marriage in many instances mark an abrupt transition into sexual relations with a husband who is considerably older and unchosen 20% of girls who gets  married at age 15 falls into this category. if you think this issue has been curbed, then you should come to the northern parts of this nation where female have no say over their life's decision. 

Blatantly speaking another cankerworm of female gender negligence. It’s on literacy in some communities, ladies are not allowed a formal education with reasons of  “she ends up in the kitchen” “baby making machine” sex toy” maid etc. 

However  let us look beyond our culture that has trapped us, Our tradition, races, belief system, environmental influence, religion buhaha, sentiment and let us walk paripasu as we  embrace the wind of  change, technology and civilization. 

There is a need to sweep under the carpet, barbaric nervousness like the histories of old, we have been told. The blood of innocent girls wails daily. 

I was regurgitated from a community where parents or guidance sell their female children for money, fame and what have you. This is a menace that has sucked out the soul of innocentia  women, female genital mutilation,  Poor coordination of women in political position, abuse…abuse of all sorts, early marriage, poor formal learning, domestic violence I have seen in the dawn of the sun when a  woman cooks and her husband who did not contribute to the finance of the family, comes up eats the food and flood the remnant with water. It in this century a man will cut off the ear of his beloved wife in the guise of argument.

When a woman wants to take up a political position, the election is rigged, and she’s tagged a prostitute when she can’t have a male child, people paint an accusing finger on her without bearing in mind that the mala chromosome is responsible for having male children, in some scenarios  when she can’t  conceive, years after marriage, her in-laws begins to barge in with countless questions.

Sometimes last year I was in a girl child advocacy seminar and one of  the spokesperson narrated a true life heart melting story of how a man sold out his young daughter of about 14 years old in marriage in order to meet up with his unpaid debt of buying a sewing machine. This man literarily gave his daughter as a collateral to an old man with already existing 2 wives. “The old man husband”in question try to use an iron to deflower this child which caused her more pain than the marriage itself. This is quite disheartening and perplexing, there are many other stories I wouldn’t want to divulge here.

 Here, only few respect the female gender and her decision. Every time I close my eyes all I see is a weeping child, a broken woman, a shattered soul.

This should be a reawakening for this gender, give her  a lift, give this women a break, give them a spirit because the burden on their shoulder is overwhelming. Give them a voice, a seat , they have been up for too long. 

Has strength like that of an ostrich depletes. Her visions have become blur, her confidence has been toast in the wind, like the harmattan breeze.

       Please cut the slack, She needs a clap, a door mat for her injured feet. She walks like an horse but gets the humiliation of the cross leaving no room for an applause.

I am glad for an opportunity of this meeting to express the hearts of many a woman’s feeling. I know for sure this is going to be a voice leading. Thank you.... Sugargurl.com