Rape in our Culture

By Florence Okafor

Perhaps if there were more prostitutes on the streets, the issue of rape could have been reduced to its barest minimum, Akin pointed. That immediately opened the floor for an argument that got Sly to scream at the top of his voice, “don’t tell me that!” We keep blaming the perpetrators of this act. Why is anyone not cautioning our young ladies who move around aimlessly at night? To quell the heat of the argument, Ikenna said, “the only way to reduce or put an end to this evil act is to keep young people busy not just physically but getting their minds to think on how they too can contribute to the advancement of the society and even help to curb this act.”

There has been series of rape saga in the country lately, which is giving one a serious cause to worry about. Despite the fact that Nigeria’s legal system recommends 14 years imprisonment for attempted rape while a rapist gets a life sentence at conviction, the crime has continued with no records of convicted culprits.  Shoddy investigations by the police and the failure of judges and magistrates to apply the maximum sentences to some culprits to serve as a lesson to others, have led to the culture of impunity adopted by rapists and other felons.

A resolute action has to be taken to show the public the gravity of this offence. There are numerous cases of rape and gang rapes in Nigeria yet many go unreported. The few that get reported to the authorities are either not pursued by the police or the victim is advised to keep silent lest she brings shame to her family.

Victims on the other hand are not even courageous to raise alarm for fear of not being despised by the society. The whole case has been impaired by judges’ demand for corroboration before a conviction is secured. This is absolutely unfavourable in the application of the rape law as it is apparent that no rape ever takes place in the market or public places.

Rape is not just a burning unpredicted sexual desire that needs to be satisfied, it is a violent expression of power against the victim and an exertion of force against her wish.  It is not about modesty or what the victim wore or her behaviour because as we all know, modestly well dressed women have also been victimised.

 When a woman is raped, the perpetrator is implying that the woman’s body is his right to take charge of it with or without her consent. Sometimes women receive all the blames. Even when a man cheats, the wife is blamed for denying him sex thus making him vulnerable to other women out side. There have been so many cases of husbands raping their own wives.

When we look the other way when the boss (oga in the house) sexually harasses the maid/nanny/distant cousin from the village, we are accomplice to rape. When we blame the rape victims, we are complicit in an act of rape. When we refuse to punish the victims, blame the devil, watch Nollywood movies where a rape victim is killed/dishonoured/disowned by her husband, family, or society at large, we are permitting and encouraging a rape culture.  

When a society as a whole fails to protect the victims and punish the perpetrators, the society is consenting that indeed the woman’s body is up for taking, with or without her consent. It is a very tragic culture fast rising in our society.