Women
Peculiarities Of Womanhood
Wife of Rivers State Governor, Justice Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, dancing with Rivers children during a special party organised for them at Government House in Port Harcourt, recently.
Naturally, girls and
boys develop quite differently during their early stage of growth. Not only that boys have broad shoulders, deep voices and whiskers in contrast to girls broad hips, feminine curves and soft skin. The development of the reproductive organs in a boy is such as to prepare him to be a husband and father while that of the girl prepares her for ultimate marriage and motherhood.
In this discourse, we are going to examine some certain functions in connection with the development of the female reproductive organs to understand what otherwise might seem to be peculiarities of womankind. Just as in a teenage boy, the reproductive organs of the girl begin to function much earlier than a young woman those of boys, keeping her ready to marry and rear children. The period between the age a girl’s reproductive organs actually begin to function and the time when she becomes a wife allows an opportunity for the young woman to become adjusted to the new role of womanhood. Understanding the functions of a girl’s reproductive organs comes when one relises that their functions are directly related to the possibility of the young woman becoming a mother.
The ovaries are the essential organs of a woman and they are comparable to the testes of a man in two ways. They include producing chemical substances that circulate throughout the body to maintain the feminine characteristics as well as the production of female germ cells. The ovaries are inside a woman’s body-one on the right and one on the left, low in the abdominal cavity.
The plan by which the ovaries produce at which female germ cells (ova) is fundamentally different from the plan by which the testes produce male germ cells (Spermatozoa). Spermatozoa are produced in tremendous numbers, while ova on the other hand, are usually produced at the rate of only one a month. In the ordinary course of events, the right ovary produces an ovum one month, and the left ovary, the next month.
A girl’s ovaries begin to produce ova early in her teens, just about the time her other reproductive organs develop and begin to function. Near each ovary is a tube called oviduct, which leads from the vicinity of the ovary to the uterus or womb. The uterus is a hollow organ about the shape and size of an ordinary pear. It is found in the mid-line of a woman’s body, low in the abdominal cavity.
The oviducts open into the uterus, one on each side, and in each month, as an ovum is produced, it passes through the oviduct to the cavity of the uterus. The lower and the uterus open into a delicate tabular passage called the vagina, which leads from the lower end of the uterus to the outside of the body. Its external opening is situated between the thighs. The principal function of the uterus is to provide protection and nourishment for a growing infant during the nine months that it remains within its mother’s body.
At this time, the unborn infant is fastened to the inside of the uterus in such a way that it obtains its nourishment from the mother. As the infant grows, the wall of the uterus grows and stretches so that it accommodates the unborn child even up to the time of birth. It is worthy of note that the child does not develop within the uterus unless and until a male germ cell provided by the man unites with a female germ cell from the woman’s ovary.
This union of germ cells occurs in one or the other of the oviducts. This means that under conditions where parenthood is in prospect, the man places his body in contact with that of the woman and implants seminal fluid in the vagina. The spermatozoa contained in the seminal fluid move upward through the uterus and out into the oviducts. If at this time a female germ cell has recently been produced by one of the ovaries, it unites with one of the spermatozoa, but if no female germ cell is available, all the spermatozoa simply perish.
Stories by Shedie Okpara
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.
