Normalization of Rape in Nigeria Law and Culture

Abstract

Rape is analogous to robbery. It is a robbery of the property in a woman’s sexuality. The robbery notion in rape justifies its criminalization by International, Federal and State legislations. Curiously, rape cases continue to increase in most Nigerian societies in spite of numerous existing anti-rape legislations, local advocacies and efforts at punishing perpetrators. This paper explores conceptions of rape among Nigerians and examines the parent rape legislation with a focus on the challenges to their enforcement. By this way, the general tenor of the law and culture are obtained to expose their vitiating effects on themselves. One-item-free-listing instrument was used to gather data on rape conceptions among 137 students of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. Hermeneutics and frequency analyses were used to tease out meanings of the laws and cultural constructions of participants. Data were interpreted using an integration of the conflict perspective, radical Feminism, and symbolic interactionism. The study finds objectification of women and normalization of rape as a means of social control in Nigeria culture. Thus rape is trivialized and thrives in misconstrued thought- blaming women for women’s own rape. Rape laws need to be reformed to ease enforcement and inclusion of post rape care. Cultural conceptions need to be resocialized by informed advocacy.