Women
The Plight Of The Girl- Child (1)
Participants at a workshop on gender based violence organised by United Nations Women in Conjunction with Unicef in Gombe on Wednesday
For a person to be
termed a woman, she must have been a girl. Gender discrimination therefore is not restricted by age. It starts the very day the girl child is delivered. Thus, from birth, she suffers condemnation, neglect and disdain. This is enhanced as she grows into a woman.
The girl-child is taught to accept the role of the woman primarily as wife and mother and to fullfil certain economic needs prematurely, whereas from boyhood, the males are already taught to assume the dominant role.
From birth, the girl-child is stigmatized. In some homes today, if a girl child is born, the father of the child becomes unhappy and sometimes puts the wife away for not being able to bear him a male child, or marries a second wife for that reason.
A child was born and the friend of the man visited the family and demanded that the good news be celebrated, on the contrary, the father of the child retorted by saying, “there is nothing to celebrate, its another mistake.” This is the extent to which the girl child has been looked at as a second class citizen.
Following the above, the girl child who is seen as a second class citizen is relegated to carry out household chores and eventually given out in marriage so as to get the bride price to train the boy child in school.
The girl child who is domineered by the society of men in all her endeavours faces more serious violation. For instance, female genital mutilation which is practised as a way of ensuring that women are not promiscuous, is very harmful to the reproductive health.
Male circumcision is an acceptable practice worldwide for religious and aesthetic reasons. On the contrary, female circumcision is harmful to woman’s reproductive health, and it implies the mutilation of the female genital for ulterior motives i.e. to forestall erotic sensation in order to preserve virginity and chastity.
Thus, women are quasi castrated for men’s purposes and this is against human rights. At this point, I would like to say that who ever wants to get spoilt will get spoilt and who ever wants to be good will be good, parents who are practising this should stop.
Women circumcision is a harmful practice which hampers their reproductive rights and as such is repugnant.
The effect of female genital mutilation is encompassing. The girl child suffers pronounced physical disabilities and even psychological trauma. It has been noted that quite often, primitive steps have been taken to gain success in this act which requires the use of unsterilized tools which cause HIV/AIDS infection.
This experience does not only cause pains, it introduces shock, hemorrhage, injury to adjacent organs and could also cause death.
Furthermore, female genital mutilation causes painful and prolonged menstrual flow thereby increasing the incidence of anaemia. It could also cause painful coitus i.e painful sexual intercourse.
Considering the effect of genital mutilation, it could be quickly reached and truely too, that such practice is not only harmful but, it is repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.
Although, it has been assumed that the reason for genital mutilation is that if the clitoris is cut off, it will reduce the sex drive in women, thus cutting down on prostitution. But following recent research, it has been proved that the clitoris is usually chopped off during circumcision.
Female genital mutilation has no relationship with female sexual drive. Thus, the practice of female genital mutilation infringes on the rights and dignity of the woman or girl child which ought to be protected.
The collective effect of the municipal and international conventions is that such acts that are tagged harmful practices should be prohibited and females should be protected from those degrading inhuman practices. A practice that renders the girl child entirely hopeless and useless. It’s effect introduces incessant bad odour, depletion of self image and the effect of inward analytical disturbances, one that affects her psyche. Something she has to live with in her entire life time.
Another instance is early marriage. Child marriage is a bane in the Muslim North. Very young girls are in effect forced into assuming the monumental responsibilities of wife and mother prematurely.
The aftermath of such brazen sexual violation is the incidence of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) as well as Recto-Vaginal Fistula (RVF) among young girls aged between twelve and fourteen years. These victims are often abandoned by their husbands who end up procuring more child brides.
Their young girls are culturally viewed primarily as sex-objects to be controlled and dominated by their husbands and any attempt at rebelling could be fatal.
A child has no capacity to enter into marriage contracts. It therefore follows that it is unlawful for a child to have sexual intercourse.
The issue of marriageable age has not been settled. Both municipal and international conventions have not placed an acceptable age for marriage. For this reason, different states have different marriageable age.
Despite the unsettled age limits, recourse would be given to the condemnation of the act of having carnal knowledge of girls below 13 years by men.
If carnal knowledge with a girl below 13 years amount to an offence under the Act, it follows that a marriage to such a person within such age bracket should be prohibited. It is unlawful.
Owing to the duty of the law, it is the duty of the fathers to protect that child from any act that diminishes her dignity.
A duty is imposed on the head of the family to provide necessities to a child who is under 14 years and a member of the household, and he is held to have caused any consequences which result to the life or health of the other person by reason of any omission to perform that duty.
Since the girl-child is regarded as a second class citizen, she is given out as a housemaid at a settled price which in turn is used to train the male child who is given a preferential treatment at the expense of the girl child.
The girl-child as a housemaid in a strange household is on a frolic of her own. She is not given any assistance, neither is she cared for. All her ‘Oga’ and ‘Madam’ want is that she does whatever she is asked to do.
This is an infringement on the right of the girl child. By the universal declaration of Human Rights, childhood is entitled to special care and assistance.
The housemaid, who is always given buckets which are bigger than her to fetch water from a place very far from the house, does not have the opportunity to be happy, loved or protected.
Most housemaids die untimely of accidents, maltreatment from those they serve etc, which also infringes on their inherent right to life.
Also, the kind of work she does deters her growth not minding the provision that “state parties should ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child”.
At other times, the child is forced out of her parents house against her will and is taken to a town very far from the one she hails from to be maltreated, thus unlawfully separating her from her parents.
Moreso, nobody gives a growing girl child who is given out as a maid the opportunity to form her views, let alone expressing those views freely in all matters affecting her as a child.
Again, as a housemaid, the girl child is not entitled to privacy and is sometimes exposed to unlawful attacks on her reputation and honour, since she could be accused of stealing or other like acts.
The giving out of the girl child as a housemaid contravenes the provision of Article 18 of the Rights of the child. It stipulates that state parties shall use their best efforts to ensure recognition of the principle, that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of the child. The best interests of the child will be their basic concern.
Furthermore, the house-maids are exposed to physically and mental violence. Sometimes, the man of the house rapes them, and at other times anybody could abuse them sexually thereby destroying them emotionally and psychological for the rest of their lives.
To be contd.
Aniekan is an intern with The Tide.
Patience Aniekan
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
