Women
Pre-Marital Sex: The Latest Fashion
It is quite common these days in our society to see pregnant teenagers and youths roam the streets, a result of pre-marital sex.
Pre-marital sex, a sexual intercourse between man and woman or boy and girl before marriage, is morally considered sinful with many causes and effects.
Prominent among its causes is ignorance, accassioned by inadequate sex education. Some youths and teenagers are ignorant of the dangers of pre-marital sex because their parents think it is unnecessary to talk about it.
Improper upbringing is also another cause as most youths and teenagers are left to fend for themselves and lack love and attention from their parents.
Another cause is the non-challant attitude of some youths and teenagers which makes them vulnerable to many sexual attacks. Most of the girls attend parties, drink until they are drunk and end up getting raped.
Peer influence is another major cause of pre-marital sex. Most teenagers and youths indulge in it because their friends are into it and they want to feel among. They believe in the slogan “if you can’t beat them, you join them” and they also believe that virginity is old-fashioned, this is a very wrong impression.
Unwanted pregnancy is one of the effects of pre-marital sex. Those who think they are smart enough to avert pregnancy through the help of contraceptive sometimes end up childless when married because of excessive intake of contraceptives. This is in addition to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
Pre-mature death is another effect. Teens and youths die almost everyday trying to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy. Some die because of the incurable diseases they contract along the line while others fall into the arms of ritualists who would always lure them into sex for money and end up using them for rituals.
As much as pre-marital sex is shunned in some parts of the country, it is accepted in others. Some parents do not allow their girl-child get married if she is the only child, they rather prefer her get pregnant and give birth to children for them while some will only allow their girl-child to get married after she has given birth to a son for them because to them, they need somebody to continue their lineage. This is indeed a mentality that needs not be encouraged.
Unfortunately, children who are products of pre-marital sex and unwanted pregnancies end up being the ones creating nuisance in the society due to the fact that most of them are bastards, probably their mothers were raped and some of them were denied by their father, leaving their mothers with no other choice but to raise them up single-handedly. Some of these children were even abandoned by the road side by their mother who could not take on the responsibility of being a mother. So, these children do not have the right upbringing due to the circumstances surrounding their birth.
However, pre-marital sex, unwanted pregnancy and premature death, could be checked if only parents could decide to instill the right morals in their children and also give them proper sex education. Sex education can also be taught in schools and churches.
Teens and youth can also help by abstaining from pre-marital sex and also living a careful and God fearing life. They should also keep good friends to avoid having the wrong influence and advice as it is said that, “Evil communication corrupts good manners”. A word they say is enough for the wise.
On the teens and youths part, a decision to abstain from pre-marital sex and living a God-fearing life by avoiding the wrong influences can be quite rewarding.
Ibeh Stella Francis is an intern with The Tide Newspaper.
Stella Francis Ibeh
Women
Nigeria Deserves Stylish, Sophisticated Designs-Igiebor Daddy Lucky
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
Women
Women Can Curb Indecent Dressing
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.