Women
Eliminating Gender-Based Violence
Ever since women gathered in Beijing, in 1995 to deliberate on issues of concern to the women in general, issues on gender-based violence has gained much prominence in newspaper, magazines and books.
While some people suggest that the issue is being over flooded, others justify its constant publication, until the desired attention is attracted.
Gender-base cases have remained unbearably persistent in spite of the many voices raised against it. Rather than assuming the posture of a monster rejected by the public, it is perpetrated as a development welcomed and encouraged by the society.
By the day, different faces of this ugly monster emerge; ranging from physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, be it in private or public life.
According to a recent UN Fund for Women’s (UNIFEM) report on violence against women, the physical harm ranks highest. The report states that on the average, at least six out of ten women have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused by an intimate partner in the course of their life time.
In Nigeria in particular, there has been increasing reports of sexual abuse of infants and young girls, with ages ranging from two to sixteen years, in places such as homes, schools, and places of worship.
Following this trend, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Josephine Anenih, has joined millions of activists calling for an end to injustice against womanhood.
In her recently launched campaign tagged “Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence Against Women”, the minister described the plight of the woman as a pathetic one she moans: “the story of violence against women is a sorry one; across the world, women remain vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
Mrs Anenih, highlights the inadequacy of appropriate penalties to deter perpetrators of this inhuman act as a basic challenge in eliminating gender-based violence. According to her, it has been observed that there are obstacles in the enforcement of extant laws, procedures which make it extremely difficult for women to get relief from existing legal instruments.
Corroborating the point raised by the minister, some concerned citizens explained that “in Nigeria, most law enforcement officers, especially the police, traditionally treat cases relating to domestic violence against women differently from other violence crimes only to blame their poor response on the dearth of relevant laws to back up their intervention:, hence, painting a picture of a weak legal system in this regard.
Dr. Abiodun Ogundoyin of the engender project, a non governmental organisation, explains that the police’s nonchalant disposition to cases of domestic violence is predicated on the premise that it is some what regarded as a family problem which the police often try to avoid and whenever they handle such cases, they often resort to blaming the molested woman inspite of her victimisation, adding that “even in countries with strong legal systems, law enforcement institutions have historically responded to domestic and sexual violence with bias, neglect and mistreatment” .
However, Mrs Oby Nwankwo, Executive Director, Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CRDDOC) does not view the Nigerian legal system as weak in dealing with violence against women.
She insists that the 1999 constitution has specific provision on fundamental human rights, including right to life, dignity of human beings and right not to be subjected to cruel inhuman and degrading treatments.
She added, “the criminal code prohibits unlawful assault occasioning harm and indecent assault. These various forms of assault do not exclude those perpetrated at home by persons such as husbands or in-laws- Nwankwo highlighted some laws enacted by some states House of Assemblies prohibiting some gender-base violence ranging from girl-child marriage and female circumcision as well as obnoxious widowhood practices etc.
However, inspite of all these machineries put in place to check the excesses of the perpetrators of these heinous acts on womanhood, Mr Osemhenjie Desmond, a programme officer in the Nigerian Office of (UNIFEM) still sees no succour in sight as women and girls continue to suffer molestation in the society.
All the same, stopping violence against women remains a moral imperative and all hands must be on deck to combat this heinous crime.
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
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.
Women
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