Gendered violence and human rights: An evaluation of widowhood rites in Nigeria

This paper evaluates the connecting fabric between gendered violence and human rights through the dire lenses of widowhood rites in Oshimili-North Local Government Area in Delta State, Nigeria. This evaluation stems from the Sustainable Development Goal-5 whose aim is the eradication of all forms of discrimination against women as well as harmful practices. Hinged on the theories of cultural relativism and universalism, the paper provides information on the existence of dehumanizing cultural practices related with widowhood rites despite the enactment of human rights instruments that are expected to address this form of discrimination targeted mostly against women. In-depth interviews were conducted among widows who voluntarily shared their experiences. Findings show widows’ acceptability of widowhood practices despite their educational and financial status notwithstanding. Also worthy of note is that women are perpetrators of these widowhood rites and they ensure its strict compliance among other widows. It recommends the dire need of the Nigerian government to domesticate the global rights regime into its legal framework, education of the populace through the interpretation, appropriation and the reconstructing of these transnational discourses into the indigenous and ensure that, effective monitoring mechanisms are in place to guarantee the effective protection of this vulnerable population

Masculinity and men’s health-seeking behaviour in Nigerian academia

The nexus between masculinity and men’s health-seeking behaviour is a multifaceted global discourse which has been quite enlightening when viewed from varying perspectives. Remarkably, cultural and patriarchal norms continually impact the chauvinistic character of men with regards to their health. It is in line with this that the study investigates men’s health-seeking behaviour in the Nigerian academia by identifying factors that impede their acceptability of and accessibility to available healthcare facilities. More specifically, the study examined the extent to which gender/masculinity influences the health-seeking behaviour amongst men and how this invariably affects their rights to health enshrined in goal 3 of the SDGs. The Courtenay’s relational theory of gender and men’s health is the most suitable theory that puts the discourse in proper perspective. Data was obtained via in-depth interviews conducted with male staff of Covenant University. A convenient sample of 8 respondents were purposively and randomly selected from across the various ranks of the population of the study. The interview results identified and outlined themes on the health-seeking behaviour amongst men in the academia. The paper argues that despite high educational attainments, masculinity and cultural norms remain major influencers of men's health-seeking behaviour. This study concludes that there is a need for health education, sensitization and campaigns in other to enhance health-seeking behaviour amongst men in the academia