Since the pre colonial times gender roles regarding women have been undermined. The image of a woman is helpless, oppressed, and marginalized group without proper study, and little recognition has been granted to the various integral functions that Nigerian women have performed throughout history.
"Within Igbo and Yoruba societies at least, women have committed to a culturally important political structure that was parallel and complimentary to that of men" ( Our White Fathers, Graham Baden)
"In the precolonial period, women played a major role in social and economic activities. Division of labour was along gender lines, and women controlled such occupations as food processing, mat weaving, pottery making, and cooking."
Woman's life
* A woman is not to defy a mans wishes, she is to do what he asks of her, regardless of what the task is.
* Violence in marriage is very common, especially since a woman has a much lower status in the marriage than the man does.
* Spousal rape is common among marriages as well, as a woman has no say in whether or not she has sex with her partner, he may force himself upon her at any time, and regardless of whether it is considered rape to us.
*Unmarried women have it worse than married women. Men constantly force themselves upon these young girls, regardless of age, which is a reason AIDS is so popular among the Nigerian people. Men commonly admit to raping women, because in Nigeria, no one sees anything particularly wrong with it.
Marriage
If you're Christian you are only allowed one wife, if you are Muslim you are allowed up to four wives. There's three ways to get married religiously, by the civil or traditionally.
"Some Nigerians see polygamy as a divisive force in the family, often pitting one wife against another. Others see polygamy as a unifying factor, creating a built-in support system that allows wives to work as a team."
Works cited
"The role of Nigerian Women" Encyclopædia Britanica Toyin O. Fabola November 20, 2007 https://www.britannica.com/topic/role-of-Nigerian-women-1360615 23 March 2017
"Nigeria" Countries and their cultures 2017 Advameg, Inc http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Nigeria.html 23 March 2017
Credits:
Created with images by carlagomo - "P1020832" • CDC Global Health - "Aisha_Sadiq_3" • Fæ - "King Eyo Honesty, Calabar (imp-cswc-GB-237-CSWC47-LS2-011)"