THE Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, urged the male gender to assist in house chores, for the family's good.
According to media reports, the Executive Secretary, DSVA, Mrs Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, gave the advice at the Katangowa Market, during advocacy against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), tagged: "Men Wey Sabi”.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, she said that the campaign followed the resolve of the state government to rid Lagos of SGBV crimes in its entirety, through enlightenment campaigns and continuous sensitisation plans that cut across different strata of the society.
”Some women have died because they did not cook for their spouses, and some women are being victimised because it appears they are not meeting up with the house chores. Today we are engaging the men; the men will be cooking; men will be cleaning; men will be changing diapers; basically, roles that have been specifically ascribed as feminine roles.
”What we are saying is that it doesn’t make you less of a man if you are involved in house chores for the family. What we are saying is that if you are a ”man wey sabi”, you should be involved because it is in partnership, ‘marriage is partnership’,” Vivour-Adeniyi said.
According to her, it is expedient to change the social construct by breaking gender stereotypes that further heighten directly or indirectly the crime of sexual and gender-based violence.
She said that between September 2021 and July 2022, there was a record of 4,860 cases of SGBV, with a notice of a slight decrease in May and June.
The Babaloja General, Alhaja Abiodun Kosoko and Iyaloja General, Mrs Funmilayo Alabi George of Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA expressed gratitude to the state government for bringing the initiative to the market.
Kosoko said that the problem associated with SGBV was that some people don’t want the issue to be exposed if it happens. At the Katangowa market campaign, selected male adults performed on-the-spot chores socially ascribed to women, such as diaper changing and cooking.
The Sun reports that winners and other event participants went home with gifts and consolation prizes.
