Marriage! It has different meanings in different cultures. Its origin predates the Abrahamic religion by thousands of years. In the West, both parties are equal signatories to the union, whereas in Nigeria, the man calls the shot, and only the woman can take the man's last name.
When a woman goes through pregnancy, it changes her body. After a few pregnancies, she becomes a different person. In Nigeria's patriarchal and patrilineal society, marriage is a prerequisite for honouring a woman. Should her husband leave her, she is relegated to the lower tier of society, as most men will not want her. More often than not, she has the responsibility of raising the children.
Nigeria's patriarchal setup turns a blind eye to rape and domestic violence; both are rampant in Nigeria, with seven out of ten women being victims of either. A woman who opens up about domestic violence faces intimidation, sometimes even from her own family. The police are not very interested, either. A cheating husband is protected, whereas a cheating wife is castigated, condemned, or divorced.
Let us delve into a thought-provoking question: Does marriage truly benefit Nigerian women?
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