By
Ipadeola Isaac Ajibola, Ph.D. Candidate in
Christian Ethics, NBTS Ogbomoso.
+2348032640509.
ABSTRACT
Domestic violence is a prevalent and complex issue that affects millions of people worldwide, including Nigeria. This paper seeks to discuss the ethical responses to domestic violence among couples in Nigeria, with a focus on the causes, effects, and mitigation strategies. The paper adopts a descriptive approach, reviewing existing literature on domestic Violence, Marriage, and family in Nigeria. The findings highlight the need for a multidimensional approach to address domestic violence, involving Cultural, Civil or Government approaches, Churches’ and Community approaches. The paper concludes with recommendations for policymakers, religious leaders, and Community Stakeholders to promote ethical responses to domestic Violence in Nigeria.
Introduction
The paper seeks to discuss the ethical Responses to mitigate Domestic Violence among Couples in Nigeria. Domestic violence is a serious human rights violation that affects individuals, families, and communities worldwide. In Nigeria, domestic violence is a pervasive issue that cuts across cultural, social, and economic boundaries. According to the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) (2018), 1 in 3 women in Nigeria experience physical, emotional, or sexual violence from their intimate partners.[1] This paper aims to explore the ethical responses to domestic violence among couples in Nigeria, with a focus on the causes, effects, and mitigation strategies.
What motivated the researcher to write on this topic was an unfortunate incident of domestic violence that happened to one couple in a village where I pastored. What caused the couple’s fight was the issue of “who just called you on the phone” that the husband accused his wife of. Before this time, the husband had been alleging the wife of infidelity, which the wife was denying. Unfortunately, that fateful day, The male friend of the woman called her in the presence of the husband, and the wife tried to dodge picking up the call; when the husband was aware, he flew up by shouting at the woman, “Who just called you “? You must explain, or you will face consequences. Before one knows what is happening, the husband gives the woman three dirty slaps, and the woman, in return, tore the husband’s garment, and that was how the fight began. That very day, the husband beats hell on the woman’s body, and if not for the community people intervened in the matter, the man would have been killed by the woman that day. The community elders sent someone to pick me up because the couple happened to be my church members. After settling the matter in the community Palace, I invited the two of them to come to the Pastorium, which they did, and prayerfully, the matter was resolved.
Several things can be responsible for the causes of domestic violence. Like in the case above, infidelity can be a cause of domestic violence. Other causes could be money issues, cultural factors, drug and substance abuse, and sexual issues, among others. The effects can be seen in the physical abuse of the victims, and the effects will be seen on the children, on the Church, and the Society at large. The ethical responses that will be used to mitigate domestic violence are religious intervention through teaching, preaching, prayers, and discipleship. Cultural or community intervention and governmental or law enforcement intervention are other ethical Responses that can be employed.
Through awareness and education, the public can be informed and trained on media platforms like radio, television, and others on the evil effects of domestic violence, premarital counseling for intending couples, Preaching, Discipleship of members, and involvement of law enforcement agents, Prayers, among others. By following strictly the above ethical responses, domestic violence will be reduced drastically, and there will be peaceful co-existence in the couples’ homes in Nigeria.
Concept of Domestic Violence
Violence can be defined as the intentional and persistent exploitation of anyone in the home in a way that causes pain, agony, or injury. Ahiie, Ose N. argues that it is becoming rampant in Nigeria and “wears many faces.” It involves contempt and powerlessness that runs through women’s lives. It is a violation of human rights. It denotes any abusive treatment of one’s family member by another, thus disrespecting the law of fundamental social rights. Domestic violence refers to any form of physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual abuse inflicted by one intimate partner on another. Domestic violence can take many forms, including physical Violence, emotional abuse, financial abuse, and sexual Violence. In Nigeria, domestic violence is often perpetuated by cultural and societal norms that condone violence against women and children. It comprises battering of intimate partners and others, sexual abuse of children, marital rape, and customary practices that are harmful to women.[2] The surprise from these explanations is that domestic ferocity is usually a deliberate action, not a mistake or an act of the devil.
According to Scott and Marshall, home violence is explicitly male violence (physical or psychological) against women. The word is believed to have been popularized by feminists in the 1970s, AAMM, Vol. 13, 5 some of whom recognized shelters for maltreated women. They contended that home violence is a reflection of gender inequalities in power and women’s oppression. Here, the researcher, in disagreement with the above, submits that any member of the family can cause domestic violence in the home. More broadly, the term encompasses any violence within the family. Although violence against children is usually explicitly described as child abuse, frankly speaking, men are also going through some forms of domestic violence at the hands of women. Some men suffered emotional pain from their wives. Some women denied their husbands sex at home, and this has led to men’s misbehavior at home.[3] Roehlkepartain, Eugene C. (Ed.) estimates that one out of all three girls and one out of every seven boys will be sexually molested by the time they are eighteen.[4] Harrison said it may be the case in the USA; the situation may not be far from the above in the Nigerian Society.[5] Violence occurs when somebody infringes on the rights of others in the Marriage and family. According to Attar et al., Domestic Violence is a regular pattern in behavior to instill dominance, superiority, and surveillance in the relationship.[6] In Marriage and family, disagreement that can lead to domestic violence is inevitable. Marriage and family fights can happen when family members have dissimilar views or beliefs that clash. It occurs when people misunderstand each other and jump to the wrong conclusion mainly, and if not controlled, it can lead to domestic violence. It can undertake multiple forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, reproductive, or sexual abuse. There are several cases of domestic violence in our Society today. An example is a case where a wife beats her husband when fighting, which later leads to the death of the husband; in other instances, it is the children who beat up their parents. It is contrary to the purpose through which God instituted the Marriage.