Cultural Violence
There are many cultural differences between Nigeria and other countries, such as the United States. Although some aspects of culture, such as food and language, are more obviously different, others, like social behavior, are not. In Nigerian culture, it is often socially acceptable to hit a woman or take part in any sort of domestic violence act. Domestic violence is the violent and aggressive behavior involving the abuse of a spouse or partner. Domestic violence can negatively affect women in Igbo society, for example, it can leave women to fear for their lives, be accepted in part due to cultural and religious norms, and can cause them to not want to pursue or achieve their goals.
Domestic violence in Igbo culture can leave women to fear for their lives. Igbo women can face the chance of being badly injured or even killed by the violence that their husbands inflict upon them. Chinua Achebe states in his novel, "Unfortunately for her, Okonkwo heard it and ran madly into his room for the loaded gun, ran out again and aimed at her as she clambered over the dwarf wall of the barn" …show more content…
Women in Nigeria do not report domestic abuse to the police because they want to avoid being stigmatized and risking losing their husband or their chance to remarry. Although the women know that violence affects their reproductive and mental health, they cannot get proper help due to cultural constraints. Amobi Linus Ilika explains, "Although no one who understands the power of culture and religion dare challenge this norm, we must understand that some cultural and religious norms have led to the neglect, and sometimes acceptance of violation of women’s reproductive and human rights" (Ilika 10). Because culture and religion hold power in society, people do not usually try to challenge it so the acceptance of violence against women cannot be easily changed in Igbo
There are many cultural differences between Nigeria and other countries, such as the United States. Although some aspects of culture, such as food and language, are more obviously different, others, like social behavior, are not. In Nigerian culture, it is often socially acceptable to hit a woman or take part in any sort of domestic violence act. Domestic violence is the violent and aggressive behavior involving the abuse of a spouse or partner. Domestic violence can negatively affect women in Igbo society, for example, it can leave women to fear for their lives, be accepted in part due to cultural and religious norms, and can cause them to not want to pursue or achieve their goals.
Domestic violence in Igbo culture can leave women to fear for their lives. Igbo women can face the chance of being badly injured or even killed by the violence that their husbands inflict upon them. Chinua Achebe states in his novel, "Unfortunately for her, Okonkwo heard it and ran madly into his room for the loaded gun, ran out again and aimed at her as she clambered over the dwarf wall of the barn" …show more content…
Women in Nigeria do not report domestic abuse to the police because they want to avoid being stigmatized and risking losing their husband or their chance to remarry. Although the women know that violence affects their reproductive and mental health, they cannot get proper help due to cultural constraints. Amobi Linus Ilika explains, "Although no one who understands the power of culture and religion dare challenge this norm, we must understand that some cultural and religious norms have led to the neglect, and sometimes acceptance of violation of women’s reproductive and human rights" (Ilika 10). Because culture and religion hold power in society, people do not usually try to challenge it so the acceptance of violence against women cannot be easily changed in Igbo