Statistically, one in every four girls in Nigeria have experienced some form of sexual assault by the time they are 18 years of age. Nigerian Society has been so desensitized to hearing stories of rape, that for the most part no one is in shock anymore. Victims have a hard time speaking up for fear of retaliation and shame yet the Nigerian Justice system clearly defines rape as a criminal offence. Enforcers of the law in the form of the police force, maintain a roster of misogynistic officers who not only demand ‘motivation’ to get involved in cases, but they end up compounding cases and doing nothing to alleviate the… Read More
Continue ReadingUnderstanding Sexual Grooming
By: Tolu Ojeshina Tolu is a development practitioner, writer, and volunteer at The Consent Workshop. She is passionate about dialogue and conversations that promote the development, advancement, and protection of women. Sexual grooming is a preparatory process in which a perpetrator gradually gains a person’s trust with the intent to be sexually abusive. It involves laying a foundation for sexual abuse or rape by building a relationship with a victim over time. The rationale for grooming, is to ensure that there are no repercussions for sexual violence, because the victim either trusts you enough to believe abuse did not occur, or thinks reporting/ asking for help is a betrayal… Read More
Continue ReadingHonouring Victims and Survivors of Rape
Beacons Of Hope And Not Hashtags. Although their names have become known after death, their stories told after death, the world awake after death, Uwaila, Barakat, Azeezat, Faith Jude and many others who were robbed of their lives were full of life and aspirations before they became hashtags and topics of necessary discussions that should have happened ages ago. Their lives were canvasses of brightness, love, dreams, and even struggles before they became memories. In the midst of the chaos, they have left behind family, friends, and a community of people that will like to remember them as living, breathing beacons of hope. Now and forever we remember: … Read More
Continue ReadingSlut-Shaming: Fast Black girls
The term ‘fast’ denotes a girl who has matured sexually beyond her years. While we’re not too sure how one could mature sexually beyond one’s age, we are certain that it is a term used to justify the slut-shaming and sexual assault of black girls in society. While discussing slut shaming it is important to recognize the intersections within this discussion and the difference in experience within racialized groups. It seems a bit redundant that slut-shaming still has to be explained to the larger public, that no one woman is better than the other for the choices she makes in terms of sexual activities or appearance. For reference, however Slut-shaming,… Read More
Continue ReadingHow Purity Culture Enables Rape Culture
Purity culture: any teaching that places the honour of a girl/woman on her vagina and reinforces the idea that premarital sex make women worthless. Purity /noun/: the state or quality of being pure. Pure /adjective/: clean and not containing any harmful substances; complete and total. Purity culture is blaming Eve for giving the apple to Adam and enticing him to sin. Every Christian girl knows Eve is the architect of our misfortune. Every bad thing women experience today is a result of Eve’s sin. Purity culture is comparing girls who are sexually active to expired food products. Because you know, girls automatically become expired milk after they have sex. It… Read More
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