CHECKNG VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: A NECESSARY TOOL FOR
PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT
It
just seems everything is collapsing rather too fast. Right from the devaluation
of naira, to fuel scarcity and hike in the price of today’s gold- “petrol”
luckily if found, to the inter-state and intra-state kidnapping of girls involuntarily
for illicit engagements and dealings and the continued drama of the corrupt
leaders in our country Nigeria. When are we ever going to heave a sigh of relief?
When and what time in particular are we going to weather the storm of all these
challenges posing threats to the development of our dear nation?
Quenching
the fire to a problem automatically sprouts another, which obviously happens in
our country and maybe other states too. It was firstly the case of Kidnap of
some girls from their school, and it’s rather excruciating that some of them
haven’t been found up till date. It’s also necessary to say that military men
have tried their best in securing some girls from the hands of the callous and
obdurate sect. But it wouldn’t be enough until the girls are all fully granted
the chance of breathing the air they were used to before. While still trying to
quench the problem on ground, another as surfaced just as I said above. Why
would a person think of relocating to another state with the daughter of another
family without due consent? What case do we call this?
Women
and girls have been faced with serious challenge all over the globe and Nigeria
is definitely not an exception. One of which is the case which happened
recently, when a man had to relocate to another state with another family’s
daughter and not even stopping at that, it was claimed that he even tried to
change her faith and all that…one begins to ask what type of a country we are
in? Or what type of people the country we are in accommodates? Whichever suits.Violence
against women and girls, irrespective of what community, country or continent
where one lives, is one of the most pervasive challenges facing humankind. The
consequences across society, from the individual to nation-states and regions,
demonstrate the range and severity of the crisis: One out of every three women
around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her
lifetime. Girls and young women who are victims of sexual violence can be
limited in their educational opportunities and achievements, affecting their
capacity to earn a viable income. When women and girls are oppressed by
violence and intimidation, businesses and government agencies are impacted —
from employee absences, security costs, prosecution of alleged perpetrators,
and increased poverty from a shrunken workforce of female citizens unable to
work at their full capacity. Further, women who have experienced violence are
at a higher risk of HIV infection. A critical survey several years ago among
South African women showed that those who were beaten by their partners were
48% more likely to be infected with HIV than those who were not beaten. (Jimmie
Briggs; Ending Violence against Women and Girls.)Jimmie
Briggs- an activist against women and girls violence opined that sexual
interaction without consent or rape as taken over the day, emotional abuse,
economic control, political disenfranchisement, denial of the right to
education, as well as denial of independent movement or action not leaving out
physical violence are just a few of the problems women and girls have to battle.
In a society that has an integral part of it posed with these challenges what
do you think? With all the problems lined up for possible solutions in our dear
Country, do we have to add other unnecessary problems like the ones listed
above? Blogs won’t have fascinating features without having to feed readers
with cases of physical assault on women or girls. If you don’t read of one
which relates to rape, you will read of a man who poured acid on his wife for
reasons best known to him, or other cases like denial of sex resulting into
merciless beating. Why the molestation?
Often,
violence against women and girls is fostered by negative constructs of
masculinity and manhood, which lead men to believe they must hold certain
qualities and exhibit behaviour which is typically harmful to others, and
sometimes themselves. For example, physical strength and sexual prowess can be
used as indicators of whether or not someone is a “real man,” as well as
economic viability — being able to provide for oneself and family — and, having
recognized authority or power beyond oneself. (Jimmie Briggs) I seem to agree
with Briggs on this point, most assaults faced by women in their respective
homes is as a result of that “masculine power”. The power that makes a man feel
because he feeds a woman, he can treat her anyhow, even to the extent of beating
her when she isn’t cooperating. Is that what masculine power is supposed to
king on?Women
and girls are not objects of molestation and shouldn’t be treated as such. I
don’t know of any faith that has recommended or supported the discrimination
and violence against women and girls, and I am sure there is none. Women and
girls are objects of respect, regards, and relevance and they should be treated
as such. Take a look at countries that don’t trample upon the rights of women,
what is known of them? Economic buoyancy, stabilised society, peaceful
atmosphere and all round development just to mention a few. I believe every man remains sane until the day
he raises his filthy and vomity hands on a lady…Let’s all say no
to violence against women and girls in our society!
