#BeingAFemaleInNigeria was trending on Twitter yesterday, and it shed light on how Nigerian women can be treated in their society. Their stories prove that society frequently demotes women to primal importance — being a wife and a vessel for bearing children — and denies them genuine self-worth and independence in the process.
Therefore, things such as seeking a higher education would be deemed foolish because apparently men don’t want a smart woman. Living on one’s own would be mischievous. And turning down a man would be considered irrational.
Women are not considered victims, but the cause of their problems. For example, if your husband cheats on you, it’s not his fault, but yours for not pleasing him and giving him what he deserves. And women must stand idly by when they are sexually harassed either in the market or at the workplace.
And many did not hesitate to call out the Nigerian government for their lack of efforts to bring back the girls that were kidnapped by Boko Haram. It just shows that women are seen as the lesser sex; the ones not worth saving.
Of course, there were a few men who barged in and said that the people speaking out were just women who liked to complain.
There are so many benefits in #BeingAFemaleInNigeria but hey let's unlook and tweet the negative ones… Afterall, we're women 😒😒😒
— Demola Of Lagos 𓃵 (@OmoGbajaBiamila) June 30, 2015
Typical — they choose to ignore women’s problems because they don’t want to be labeled as part of the problem. Nonetheless, the overwhelming amount of tweets pointing out sexism in Nigeria speak louder.
Here’s a roundup of some of the #BeingAFemaleInNigeria tweets that sum it up best.
I can actually be too smart for my own good #BeingAFemaleInNigeria
— Jaruma Magazine (@jarumamagazine) June 30, 2015
#BeingAFemaleInNigeria don't dare to get PhD if you are single, you will marry yourself
— EbyCasey (@Ifyeby) June 30, 2015
#BeingAFemaleInNigeria "why are you an entrepreneur ? just finish school and get married" Afterall, what will you do with the money sef
— Ami_mansur (@amramnsr) June 30, 2015
#beingafemaleinnigeria if I'm not married by 30, it's troubling and it's everybody's business
— 20th of October 2020 (@ibienebidiaque) June 30, 2015
I will be kidnapped from my school by terrorists and govt will doubt my existence #BeingAFemaleInNigeria
— Jaruma Magazine (@jarumamagazine) June 30, 2015
I'm worthless if I cannot give birth to my children. A barren woman is worthless #BeingAFemaleInNigeria
— Jaruma Magazine (@jarumamagazine) June 30, 2015
#BeingAFemaleInNigeria boko haram impregnates you after raping you and you are told you have to keep the baby because abortion is a sin.
— Dr. Ify Aniebo (@IfyAniebo) June 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/SheCrownLita/status/615893852306587648
https://twitter.com/SheCrownLita/status/615892758788595712
https://twitter.com/SheCrownLita/status/615892342654959617
https://twitter.com/classicaltiti/status/615988671607611393
https://twitter.com/classicaltiti/status/615988292979396609
https://twitter.com/TinubuTweets/status/615937648004206592
https://twitter.com/TinubuTweets/status/615930812861579265
https://twitter.com/TinubuTweets/status/615928606863196160
#BeingAFemaleInNigeria your husband family encouraging him to marry another wife because yu guys don't have kids yet
— oluwareallytobiloba (@kmzss) June 30, 2015
#BeingAFemaleInNigeria your boss firing you because yu refuse to have sexual relationship with him
— oluwareallytobiloba (@kmzss) June 30, 2015
#beingafemaleinNigeria expected to remain a virgin till marriage, but yeah my future husband has to be experienced :/
— bigbodykelz 🍯 (@Kela_O) June 30, 2015
#beingafemaleinNigeria be ready to be harassed if you go to the market. "Fine sister come and buy" *tug* *tap* *brush* *rub*
— Memuna of isaleko (@Adm3on) June 30, 2015
How will you get a husband when you are too stubborn, too opinionated , too smart for a lady ,pretend once a while ! #BeingAFemaleInNigeria
— Duchess Zee 👑 (@saphhirebaby) June 30, 2015
#BeingAFemaleInNigeria means being subject to unsolicited attention and comments about your weight/ appearance…even at work.
— O. (@O_tpw) June 30, 2015
#BeingAFemaleInNigeria no matter your achievements it amounts to nothing without a husband by your side.
— Ayi Bozimo (@AyiBozimo) June 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/miz_kayty/status/615915189041401856
A child's failure is the mothers shame but a child's success is the fathers pride #BeingFemaleInNigeria #BeingAFemaleInNigeria
— #ENDSARS #justiceforsylvester (@dammydamsk) June 30, 2015
#BeingAFemaleInNigeria you're being beaten by him and they'll ask you what you did to provoke him.
— Laila Johnson-Salami (@lailajohnsonsal) June 30, 2015
#BeingAFemaleInNigeria ask an idiot for an apology and they will tell u apologizing to a woman is emasculating oloshi
— #TKOTWBABE (@MishMashEllah) June 30, 2015
After reading #BeingAFemaleInNigeria I am more convinced that a platform that helps ambitious women navigate Nigeria is urgently needed.
— thesoftlife.eth (@ChikaUwazie) June 30, 2015
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