THE PERCEPTION OF GENDER ROLES AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR SPOUSAL VIOLENCE IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
European Scientific Journal August 2013 edition vol.9
THE PERCEPTION OF GENDER ROLES AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR SPOUSAL VIOLENCE IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
Patience E. Ukiri Mudiare 0
0 Department of Sociology, Ahmadu Bello University , Zaria, Kaduna State , Nigeria
The paper examines the socio-cultural bases of spousal violence in Kaduna Metropolis. It x-rays the perception of gender roles and the sociocultural causes of spousal violence within the generic concept of gender violence. Given the dearth of data and the lack of systematic documentation of spousal violence, this study attempts to fill the gap by providing a gender sensitive data through its gender disaggregated analysis. The findings of this study were derived from a survey of 590 respondents, 48.9 % (290) females and 51.1% (300) males using the multi-stage cluster sampling technique as well as qualitative data from Focus Group Discussions and In-depth interviews with key informants in the community. The findings reveal that most people still subscribe to the traditional gender roles though submissiveness of women is increasingly being challenged. Moreover, while violence against women is condoned, violence against men by women is unacceptable. Women therefore retaliate through passive resistance in the form of deliberate sluggishness, refusal to serve food and sexual neglect. Insubordination of women and sex related problem were perceived as causes of violence against women while female violence was attributed to aggressiveness on the part of husbands, sex related problems, neglect of the provider role and interference from mothers in-law. The paper concludes that much of the violence that men and women experience is borne out of the social and cultural prescriptions which often are skewed in favour of men and in line with the findings, appropriate recommendations are highlighted. In particular, in view of the important role religion plays in Nigeria, religious leaders should be involved in changing people's perception on gender roles and attitudes to spousal violence.
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Introduction
The marriage institution is highly valued in Nigeria and if one is of
marriageable age but is single; such a person is looked upon as irresponsible
and unworthy of holding any political office. In the case of men, impotence
could also be suspected. There is usually a sigh of relief when such persons
eventually get married and in Africa, the marriage ceremony is often
elaborate. Among the Hausa for example, the celebration goes on for up to
seven days with different activities for each day, before the couple is finally
left alone. Yet, this esteemed institution is also the site for much violence
that men and women experience. Much of this is due to the perception that
people have about gender roles and the associated prestige that accompanies
gender stratification in society. For the purpose of this paper, spousal
violence refers to any threat or actual harm perpetrated by a man against his
wife or vice versa. This includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse and
neglect.
Statement of problem
The gender of a child to a large extent can affect the type of life he or
she is subjected to. In Nigeria, male children are preferred because it is
believed that they will carry on the lineage. Such Igbo name like
Afemefule(let my lineage or compound not be lost) is a reflection of the
importance attached to the male gender and in such cultures, inheritance of
landed property is the preserve of male children. Women generally are less
involved in decision making processes in the home and community. This is
exemplified by the view of a community leader, when he was asked in an
interview about womens participation in the decision making process of his
community. His answer was that, Women should be content with their
family responsibilities and their economic activities of ground nut oil and
dawadawa (fermented locust beans seasoning) processing and that if they
(women) had any contributions on any issue, they should route them through
their husbands.
Women too have come to internalize such low concept of themselves.
For example, among the Tiv in the past, if someone knocked at the door and
asked Who is home?, the women would respond, There is nobody home,
only us! Although women are increasing beginning to assert themselves as
they become more empowered educationally and economically, they
continue to be viewed through patriarchal lenses. This probably explains
why certain stereotypes on gender roles have not changed much and why
spousal violence especially against women but not husbands persists. For
example, it is an abomination for a woman to beat up her husband and a
woman is blamed more if she attacks her husband. In the Urhobo tradition,
such a woman is made to pay a fine, and causing a man to fall down, calls
for the sacrifice of a goat to appease the ancestors. Also, among the Bajju,
the Abvai Spirit not only prohibits women from eating nutritious (...truncated)