Womanhood Should Be A Profession -By Omeje Chidiebere

Being a woman is tasking, especially in this part of the world. In Nigeria, our culture and tradition demand so much from the girl child. A woman is treated as a second class human. She is expected to be weak, calm, affectionate, breathe(not too hard) walk in eggshells and talk in ways that glorifies god(Men)in order to be accepted. One is not a woman until she passes through the standards set by the society. To achieve that one has to work tirelessly as it requires a lot of hardwork, tolerance, consistency, patience, endurance and perseverance to fit into the societal definition of a “Good woman” hence, making it difficult and stressful just like other profession. This treatise centers on the trials and tribulations of being a woman and how it equals to a profession.

Starting from when a girl child is born she is instilled with the attributes that matches the societal standard of what a good woman or a well behaved woman depicts; dependent, dumb, naive, puppet, suffer head. She is taught to do house chores and other home management skills in preparation to becoming a good wife in future. Any woman who is not comfortable with doing chores is labeled “Spoilt” and lacks home training. Even when she can afford the services of a home keeper, the society expects her to work, she has to be domesticated to be considered a “wife material.” When she eventually gets married, she is not expected to talk back when she’s being abused; a confident and outspoken woman is considered” Rude.” She is expected to endure when battered or cheated on. The society expects a woman to stay back, pray and fix her marriage when facing all manner of abuses. At the end they don’t get rewarded for it. Most of them die in the process and the rest get served sumptuous “Breakfast”(heartbreak) several times. The society measures a good woman by the level of suffering she’s able to endure.

More so, the society believes that money is “Male” and easily castigate a single wealthy woman. She’s labelled “Olosho”(a prostitute) because ” It is not in the nature of women to be rich and independent.” The society always haul insults on female drivers because “Driving is not a woman’s thing.” A woman signifies weakness and so is her reasoning, she faces all manner of humiliation because she is just a woman. A single woman cannot be given an apartment for rent because she will entertain different men. A single woman at 25 and above is mocked for being single because she’s believed to have a “bad character” not minding whether she’s mentally, psychologically, emotionally and financially ready for marriage. A woman is not respected until she’s married; even when the “Man” is almost sensible he is highly respected and honoured in the society. As a woman, “Having multiple body count devalues you.” Sex is enjoyed by two parties, if it devalues women it devalues men as well. The society is always quick to make derogatory remarks on a woman’s body and what she wears. In the labour market a woman has to work as twice as a man before she’s considered worthy of promotion. Sometimes she’s made to give her body in exchange for what she truly deserves. Generally, women are seen as a sex objects and are made to face series of sexual harassment in every area of their lives.

Lastly, it is safe to say that being a woman is more demanding than working in any organization. A woman deserves to be paid for existing and navigating this mean society. Though a professional in their field may decide to quit working, a woman cannot quit being a woman. She is meant to live like she doesn’t exist just to be accepted. if womanhood becomes a course of study and a paid profession, it will be worth the suffering.

Omeje Chidiebere,
Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.