In the foregoing analysis, we observed that to objectively grasp the problem of violence against women in Nigeria as else here in Africa, it is important to transcend the traditional perception of violence seen in strictly physical terms to include at, other forms of harsh treatment that women are subjected to by men especially those that affect their sense of well being and which are made possible because of their disadvantaged position in society. According to Anna Ngugi, the executive director of center for abused women in Africa, an NGO based in Nairobi Kenya, this new perspective brings into sharp focus the traumatic experience of most women in Africa and indeed the whole world. Thus, for the purpose of the discussion which follows in this part of the paper, we shall identify and classify violence against women into three categories;
1. The physical
2. The subtle
3. The economic forms of violence
The first category of violence involves the abuse, torture or molestation of the female gender by the male. It's characterized physical since it is usually intended afflict pain on the victim. This form of violence manifest itself in habitual physical abuse, rape, sexual molestation and genital mutilation, to mention out a few arising from their congruity with our cultural practices, secrecy, insufficient evidence and legal harriers, it has been observed that is extremely difficult to acquire accurate data on this form of violence against women, which many criminologist believe is the most under reported crime in Nigeria.
Most data on this are compiled from small studies carried out by NGOs and give only a glimpse of what is assumed to be an endemic world wide phenomenon. The subtle form of violence is the quiet type and it involves inflicting pains on the female gender without necessarily doing this physically. It cuts across what can be aptly termed verbal and visual rape which involves uttering uncomplimentary remarks about women's sexuality and undressing and making love to women with the eyes as well as confinement etc. It should be noted that although this does not leave any cuts or bruises. It is an effective way of humiliating and molesting women. Men guilty of this crime have nothing to worry about since their actions are not only unpunishable but officially encouraged.
Beyond the physical and subtle violence, there are also the psychological and economic ones which manifests in the form of notional torture, forced marriage, marital neglect and abandonment and economic deprivation like denying women either as daughters or wives the right to a minimum level of meaningful living; food, clothing, shelter and accommodation as well as medical care etc. The ling term consequence of this form of violence is that victims are left psychologically broken, helpless, disempowered and therefore vulnerable to the overbearing excesses of an unjust social order.
The preceding analysis shows the degree of problem we are dealing with here. The magnitude not withstanding, experts have identified a wide range of factors that could be held responsible for the prevalence and persistence of this social problem in our society. The first group of causative factors falls under socio-cultural rationalizations. It is contended here that culture plays an important role in the Gender question in contemporary Nigeria.
Consequently, within the culturally constructed power matrix of all communities in Nigeria, women are invariably seen rather than heard their roles being basically restricted to the domestic circles, that is as wives, and servants to men and mothers to their children. Given this disadvantaged position in the configuration of gender relations in the wider society women are oppressed and exploited and it is that exposed them to general violence by men. For example, in most societies in this country, wife battering is not acceptable but also place. Similarly female circumcision is recommended in most quarters as an effective control mechanism against the excessive predisposition of proclivity of the female gender for sexual intercourse.
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Culture