CHAPTER TWO

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN NIGERIA AND IT'S SOCIO-CULTURAL

EFFECTS
INTRODUCTION
The female gender in the African society is encumbered by diverse levels of cultural tenets that
relegates her to the background. Every form of violence against the female gender is a pointer to
the level of subjugation and relegation that the woman in an African society is subjected to. The
issue of domestic violence against women therefore, is not far fetched from the patriarchal system
upon which societies in Africa are built. Because of the distorted view of women as the weaker
sex, abuse of any sort becomes inevitable.

Domestic violence against women in the African society taking as case study is an anomaly in
society that requires desperate attention and remedy. This chapter therefore explores the concept
of domestic violence in Africa and Nigeria in particular and its effects on the socio-cultural health
of the society. It combats the sexist and discriminatory pasture held by society (especially the
men).

The Concept of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive relationship that is used by one partner to gain or
maintain power and control over another intimate partner (Olureni, 24). This definition implies
therefore that domestic violence is not gender specific. It applies to both the male and female
gender. It can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender.

Bakare (et al) also notes that domestic violence is a form of violence that occurs in a situation of
intimate and family relationships (Bakare et al, 5). However, it is pertinent to note that females are
often victims of this kind of violence. Domestic violence can take many forms including physical
abuse, sexual abuse, emotional economic and psychological abuse (Office of Violence Against
Human, 2007).

Domestic violence is also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence and
intimate partner violence (Olureni, 24). It has many forms including physical aggression or
assault Chitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, slapping, throwing objects, or threats
thereof, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, controlling or domineering intimidation; stalking;
passive/covert abuse otherwise known as neglect and economic deprivation (Seimeniuk et al,
2010). The National Network to End Domestic Violence notes that domestic violence is not
limited to obvious physical violence. It can mean endangerment, criminal coercion, kidnapping,
unlawful imprisonment, trespassing harassment and stalking (National Network to End Domestic
Violence, 2011). Domestic violence is not limited to any race or geographical location. It is a
world wide phenomenon. In the United States of America, each year, women experience about
4.8million intimate partner related physical assaults and rapes while men are victims of about 2.9
million intimate partner related assaults (Olureni, 24 - 25). Report from IRN (2007) show that
25% of women in Bakare and Kaolalk in Senegal are subjected to physical violence from their
partners and fathers while girls are often force into as early marriage and are at risk of punishment
if they attempt to escape from their husbands (Olureni, 25). In Ghana, spousal assaults, top the list
of domestic violence (IRIN, 2007) In Nigeria, reports reveal shocking high level of violence
against women (Afrol News, 2007). Armnesty International (2007) reports that a third (and in
some cases two-thirds) of women are believed to have been subjected to physical, sexual and
psychological violence carried out primarily by husbands, partners and fathers (Olureni, 25).

Domestic Violence against Women in Nigeria

Unicef (2001) in its study asserted that traditionally in Nigeria as in many other African countries,
the beating of wives and children is widely sanctioned as a form of discipline (Olureni, 26). In the
World Health Organisation report (WHO w
2005), the prevalent of domestic violence in other sub-Sahara African countries ranges from 36 -
71 percent (Bakare, et al, 6). In Nigeria the statistics presented by This Day (2011) Newspaper are
daunting. About 50 percent of women have been battered by their husbands. Shockingly, more
educated women (65%) are in this terrible situation as compared with their low income
counterparts (55%) (Olureni, 25). Most endure believing they have nowhere to go and many case
believing for good reason that the law will not protect them. A staggering 97.2% of them are not
prepared to report to the Nigerian police (Olureni, 25).
According to a study concluded by Faniway in Oyo, 40% interviewed said they were victims but it
has not been documented because there is widespread tolerance for domestic violence
(Faniway, ). Furthermore, in 2001, working women in Lagos about 64% alleged that they were
beaten by their partners, either husbands or boyfriends 56.2% market women are expected to
endure whatever she meets in her matrimonial home (Zadding, 17).
Information found in the Anals of African Medicine Women in Zaria who come for medical check
up, about 178 were questioned, 79 of these women who happened to be pregnant had secondary
school education, 28% and 56% experience had knowledge of domestic violence respectively. Of
the 56%, 36%, beaten up. While 22% were forced to have sex. They pointed out that their spouse
are the most common culprits and the 39% said they could keep domestic violence secrets
(Zadding, 17).
In Enugu, Survey research was conducted in two tertiary health institutions from January 1st to
March 31st 2005. The group was made up of 600 men, 70% reported abuse in their families. 92%
were female partners while 30% male victims. The most common form was shouting at their
partners which was 93% slapping and 77% pushing and 46% kicking (Bureau of Justice Statistics,
2005) (Zadding, 18).

In Lagos State, Titilola Arowolo, 27 years old mother of one was gruesomely murdered by her
husband. Arowolo was allegedly axed to death by her husband, Kolade in their Isolo home in
Lagos. Before that the scandalous story of wife battering by one Nigerian Ambassador and a
traditional ruler who engaged in a public brawl made the rourch. (Alekan, 102).

Concept of Domestic Violence

Akpan and Usoroh defined domestic violence as violence in intimacy which can be physical
sexual, psychological emotional or threats of physical or sexual violence (Akpan and
Ujorah, ).Geny added that domestic violence is a very serious social, economic and psychological
group inhibition. (Gerys,). According to Both, domestic violence is orchestrated as a desire of one
party in a relationship to dominate and control the other partner (Both, ). Garba notes that
domestic violence is any form of abusive behaviour in any relationship used by a partner to gan or
maintain power and control over another partner (Garba, ).
Domestic violence can also be defined as violence within the house. It is carried out mostly by
male members of the family - that is, the husband or his relatives against women and children.
These acts include among others marital rape (forced sex), beating, verbal abuse, incest, female
Genital Multi Latin forced marriage, femicide (George, 6).

Domestic violence also known as intimate partner violence is a pattern of assaultive and coercive
behaviours including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks as well as economic coercion
used by adults or adolescents against their current or former intimate partners (Unicef 2006:3).

There are different types of domestic violence

1. Physical abuse: This is the use of physical force in a way that injures the victim or puts his/her
at risk of being injured. It includes beating kicking, knocking, punching, chocking and
confinement (Olureni, 26).
2. Sexual Abuse: This includes all forms of sexual assaults, harassment or exploitation. It involves
forcing a person to participate in sexual activities, a child for sexual purposes including
prostitution and pyrography. Marital rape also comes under this (Olureni, 26).
3. Neglect: This includes failure to provide for depending who may be adults or children, denying
family members food, clothing, shelter, medical care and protection from harm.
4. Economic abuse: This includes stealing from or defrauding a loved one, withholding money for
essential things like food and medical treatment.
5. Spiritual Abuse: This includes preventing a person from engaging in his or her spiritual or
religious practices or control him/her.
5. Emotional Abuse: This includes threatening a person or his or her possession or harming a
person's sense of self worth by putting yim/her at risk of serious behavioural, cognitive, emotional
or mental disorders. Shouting at a partner which was found to be the most common abuse by Obi
and Ozunba (2007) is included. Also included in emotional abuse are name calling, criticism,
social isolation, intimidating or exploitation to dominate, routinely making unreasonable demand,
terrorising a person verbally or physically and exposing a child to violence.

In the midst of the recorded places where this is practice. This caper from the foreign, is particular
about domestic violence as is common in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Socio-Cultural Effects of Domestic Violence in Nigeria

The sicio-cultural dispositions of the women in Nigeria is Esan East local government area of Edo
State in particular is one that is trumacated by patriarchy and every other form of behavioural
patterns that are favourable to the male gender. The society has overtime developed from a
patriarchal point of view, and embedded in the culture of the people, are beliefs and practices
orchestrated in a way that the female gender is subdued. As a result of this, domestic violence as a
phenomenon is an occurrence that is majorly the effects of a male dominant culture. Consequently,
women are the major victims of domestic violence in Nigeria. The society consciously and
subconsciously support subtle and discriminatory tendencies in their relationship with the female
folk. As a result of this, there are some resultant effects of these patriarchal and anti feminist
behavioural patterns and systems in Nigeria.

With the proliferation of deferent beliefs and practices in the African society that is largely
patriarchal and less feminist in nature, there are unavoidable result effects as is seen with women
in society. Domestic violence is a major phenomenon with far reading effects on women in Africa
at large and Nigeria in particular. As Straus notes, domestic violence is a considerable social
problem which has both short and long term effects on the victims (Straus).

The World Health Organisation notes that almost all the women who had experienced violence
attacks exhibit symptoms of major depression and related health problems such as chronic pain,
depression, drug and alcohol abuse and so forth (WHO, 2013). As been observed, children have
been identified principal victims of domestic violence (HOLDEN). Thus witnessing an abuse or
residing in an environment where someone else is a victim can be psychologically devastating for
young people and the effect vary from physical, mental emotional to behavioural problems
(Abayomi 7).

Society is a system of interactions and every happening in society has a way of shaping people's
ideologies and tenets. The consistent perpetuation of domestic violence against women in the
society is a pointer to the level of degradation experienced by the female gender in society. If not
checked mated, it will become a recurrent pattern of behaviour handed down to coming
generations. At a theoretical level, Suntherland introduced social learning theory along with some
elements such as differential association and other learning theories based on the premise that
individual's behaviour is learnt through interactions and group learning (Babatunde, 56). In this
context, learning takes place according to the frequency, duration, intensity and priority of social
interactions with family, peers and other social groups with whom individual associate.

Through interaction with members of family, individual learn and develop certain attitudes and
behaviours which may be classified as positive or negative behaviour. Thus domestic violence is a
less personal choice and more as a result of differential socialization proceses.(Babatunde, 56).
Bandura further buttresses this when he notes that social learning or observational learning
involves how behavioural and attitudes can be modeled merely by observing the behaviours and
attitudes of others (Bandura, ). This therefore accounts for the fact that domestic violence remains
a recurrent phenomenon as children learn these negative attitudes and carry on with it.

Apart from the psychological effects, it is also observed that some children (respondents) are also
affected physically by domestic violence between parents. 15% of children have been physically
hurt in the process of chaos or violence in their household. And when respondents from a research
conducted were asked whether they have encountered any form of danger due to fights between
their parents, a total of 42% of the young people signified to have been in danger (Babatunde, 56).

Another major effects of domestic violence which is commonplace is the existence of broken
homes and higher rates of divorce and an increase in the number of abandoned children. The lack
of parental care could largely account for the increase in crime rates. Studies have also indicated
that one of the risks associated with children's exposure to violence is that they often have
difficulties in adjusting to normal kind of relationships in their adulthood (Charlette et al, ) Dood
also corroborates this view when he notes that a child who is exposed to domestic abuse during his
upbringing will suffer in his development and psychological welfare (Dodd,).
Domestic violence can also lead to emotional and behavioural problems like increased
aggressiveness, anxiety and changes in how a child socialises with friends, family and authorities.
It has also been found that children who witness mother-abuse are more likely to exhibit
symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (Lehman,).
Domestic violence also leads to physical dangers like bruises, broken homes, head injuries,
lacerations and internal bleeding, as these are some of the acute effects of domestic violence that
require medical attention and specialization. Some chronic health conditions that have been linked
to domestic violence are arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome (Barries). This could therefore account
for the very clearly destructive health challenges facing Women in Nigeria today.

Another major effects of domestic violence is psychological. Among victims living in abusive
relationships, high amount of fear and anxiety are commonly reported. It is recorded that 69% of
victims meet the diagnostic criteria for depression, either during or after termination of the
relationship, and have a greatly increased risk of suicidal (Barnett,).

Finally, domestic violence is also devastating once victims leave their perpetrator, they can be
stunned with the reality of the extent to which the abuse has taken away their autonomy. Due to
economic abuse and isolation, the victims usually have very little money of their own and few
people on whom they can rely when seeking help. This has been shown to be one of the greater
obstacles facing victims of domestic violence (Alokan, 103), and the strongest fact that can
discourage them from leaving their perpetrators. Finally, domestic violence can also be the main
cause of psychological/mental health issues and chronic physical health problems. A victims
overwhelming lack of resources can lead to homelessness and poverty.

Conclusion
It is glaring from the above that domestic violence against women is a stark reality that has taken
common place in all societies in the world and Nigeria in particular. There is an urgent need for
societies even as this is a derivative of the system of patriarchy that has taken roots in the African
society. This chapter clearly unravels the nature of domestic violence and its socio-cultural effects.
The next chapter espouses the possible solutions to this menace against women as this
phenomenon is a classical example of the disrespect and degradation that women are subjected to
in society.

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