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Summary
To mark one year of advocacy, we are highlighting five essential articles that explain feminism, debunk myths, and explore the everyday inequalities Nigerian women face.
Beyond reporting trending stories related to women, such as femicide, women in politics, sports, and leadership, we are also deeply committed to writing thoughtful, educational articles that challenge misconceptions about feminism and help people understand what the movement truly stands for.
Over the past twelve months, we’ve explored these issues through powerful, thought-provoking articles, mostly tailored to the Nigerian context. Here are five must-read pieces that explain feminism and address the stigma:
- Feminism 101: What Nigerian Feminism is and why you should join the movement
This article lays the foundation for understanding feminism and reflects one of our core values at NFM as an organisation.
It reflects on how deeply rooted gender inequality is in Nigerian society, where men are seen as superior to women due to cultural, religious, and political norms. While men and women are biologically different, this doesn’t make one superior to the other. Using examples from religion, politics, and everyday life, it shows how women are systematically excluded, controlled, and devalued, often from childhood.
Despite this, Nigerian women have a long history of fighting back through activism, resistance, and advocacy. Feminism is not new or Western; it is a necessary and ongoing movement for women to fight for their freedom and dignity.
- Feminism is not a problem, it’s a solution
The online gender debate is increasingly chaotic, with growing claims that marriage is no longer beneficial and that feminism is to blame. However, many women today freely choose traditional roles, so the panic over feminist women walking away from relationships seems misplaced. While feminist women face backlash, everyday violence and abuse against women are often ignored, revealing selective outrage.
The narrative that feminism harms society overlooks how it advocates for basic rights and protections, especially for marginalised women. Cases like Izu’s suicide are often misrepresented to discredit feminism, while powerful men accused of misconduct continue to thrive. Feminism exists to challenge systemic injustice, and without it, the most vulnerable women would suffer the most. Read the full story here.
- Ode to Nigerian Men: You Are Not at War, You Are on Twitter
Many men argue that going to war is the ultimate sacrifice, using it to dismiss women’s experiences of childbirth, caregiving, and inequality. But the truth is, far more women die from childbirth every year than men do from war, and most men today have never even seen a battlefield.
While women carry the daily weight of pregnancy, housework, and unpaid care, men romanticise war to avoid responsibility in gender conversations. This narrative doesn’t reflect reality; it simply shifts attention away from the real struggles women face every day. Read more here.
- Marital Inequalities: The Burden of Emotional Labour in Marriage
In many African societies, women are expected to stay in toxic marriages to uphold tradition, protect family honour, or for the sake of their children. While men are often excused or enabled, women carry the emotional burden of managing the home, raising the children, maintaining peace, and sacrificing their well-being. They’re advised to endure, forgive, and hold the family together, even in the face of neglect, abuse, or betrayal. This emotional labour, combined with unpaid domestic work, leaves women overwhelmed and underappreciated.
It’s time to recognise and challenge this imbalance, because a healthy marriage should be built on mutual support and not silent suffering. Read the full story.
- Reimagining Women’s Role in Society
The saying, “If you train a man, you train an individual, but if you train a woman, you train a nation,” carries a profound meaning that is often overlooked. It speaks to women’s power and influence as transformative change agents in shaping societies. Women are often multitaskers, empathetic, and emotionally attuned, which is usually dismissed but vital to sustaining life and nurturing growth.
The message is clear: if we want to heal the world, we must first value and empower women. When women thrive, the world thrives. Read the full insight here.
Our stories and articles on feminism are still on our website for you to read and educate yourself. If you would like to support our work, consider donating or sharing our stories.
