FROM FEMININE BASED ABUSE TO MASCULINE ABUSE: RETHINKING DOMESTIC ABUSE IN QUOTIDIAN YORUBA

Back to Page Authors: Oluwasola Ibitayo Daniels

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Keywords: domestic abuse, domestic violence, gender, masculinity, machismo

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Abstract: In Yoruba ethnic of Nigeria, it is generally believed that women are victims of domestic abuse in marriage. This is not unconnected to the cultural submission that man could not become a victim of domestic abuse, since the society is male dominated and men are usually responsible for physical violence. However, research has proven that men are also victims of domestic abuse, which represents disruption to the old order. Verbal abuse and physical violence are some of the mechanisms women employ in abusing men in marriage. The paper also attempts to examine the factors responsible for male underreported abuse and argues that male and female are victims of domestic abuse in Yoruba society. The paper also discusses the menace in non-spousal relationship. The theory of hegemonic masculinity is used to understand the silence culture of men, because the theory espouses the domination of man by woman. Descriptive research methodology is used to discuss the various types of the abuse, the experiences of the two genders, and interventions of governmental and non-governmental organisations in tackling the phenomenon. The paper concludes that thought repositioning is needed for the society to accept that patriarchy does not inhibit domestic abuse on men. However, combating domestic abuse is not just socio-cultural, it is institutional and government can succeed in addressing the phenomenon when systemic defect of the Nigerian government is addressed.

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