The Intersectionality of Culture in Gender Relation in Nigeria

Abstract

Africans are cultural conservatives. These conserved cultures are handed over from generation to generation. Man is not just the product of nature but a product of his culture as well. His culture informs his upbringing and also forms his philosophy of life. His culture also informs his relationship with members of his community. Gender is an aspect of the social identity of men as well as women. Just as there are cultural norms and expectations about women's roles, there are also cultural norms and expectations of men as leaders, husbands, sons and lovers that shape their behaviour and opportunities. Culture shapes the prevailing gender relationship especially in Nigeria which is strongly embedded in patriarchal traditions. One cannot exclude culture from gender because gender is a product of culture. Culture informs how we're expected to act, speak, dress, groom, and conduct ourselves based upon our assigned gender. Women are naturally assigned the second person role in ever African society and this has contributed greatly to their marginalization in almost all African societies. Culture affects variation in relationships. This paper using the philosophical methods of hermeneutics which has to do with interpretations, wishes to interpret various ways by which culture has intersected in gender relation. Its findings will recommend positive values to be emulated that will improve gender relation.