Florence Ugbem | February 29, 2024
News Brief
Margaret Oraza is a civil servant and mother of five in Makurdi, Nigeria, who is struggling to balance demanding household chores with her job. Her situation underscores the broader issue of gender roles in domestic labour. Cecelia Madu, a gender studies expert, argues that society must change to encourage shared household responsibilities between men and women, and recognize the value of women's contributions at home. This push for change seeks to address gender stereotypes and promote equality in homes.
On a typical weekday morning in February, Margaret Oraza is already up at 4:30 am, braving the dark and the chilly caress of the harmattan wind to begin her chores before heading to work. The 41-year-old mother of five puts water to boil on the charcoal stove so her family can bathe when they wake up. Then she starts preparing breakfast. Her morning chores take about four hours. She says, “Sometimes, the work I do at home before going to work affects my performance at the office due to excessive stress and exhaustion.”
Mrs. Oraza is a civil servant at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. She lives with her husband and five children in Wurukum, Makurdi, in central Nigeria’s Benue State. She gets little help with household tasks from her husband because of his health challenges. Bemgba Oraza has high blood pressure and diabetes.
Although Mrs. Oraza does a lot of housework, her children help her with chores such as grinding pepper, washing dishes, fetching water, and running errands. Her eldest son, 19, is pursuing a degree in anatomy at the state university and also works as a labourer. He often gives small monetary gifts to his mom as well as encouraging his father to take more responsibility around the house to ease his mother’s burden. Mrs. Oraza’s children deeply value her dedication to household chores and her significant financial contributions to the family.
But, explains Mrs. Oraza: “My husband and children have a limit to what they can assist me. Most times, I’m left to carry out routine chores like breaking firewood and pounding yam, which cause fatigue and hunger.”
Mrs. Oraza believes that communities should tell husbands to be more supportive of their wives at home so they don’t get so tired and worn out. She says, “Men should not see their wives as their slaves, but as helpmates.”
Cecelia Madu is a social worker who works as a training and research officer at the Centre for Gender Studies at Benue State University in Makurdi. She says that, even though women can multi-task, there is a need for equal opportunities to be given to both males and females at home.
Ms. Madu believes that women either ought to be paid for the work they do at home, or that men must understand the need for husbands to help with domestic chores. She adds, “The role women play in their homes is very valuable. Men need to recognize and appreciate the time, energy, and resources women put in to run the home effectively.”
Ms. Madu calls for a societal shift away from traditional “women’s jobs” and “men’s jobs.” She says these labels not only limit potential but reinforce stereotypes, adversely affecting perceptions of both genders. Arguing that any job can be done by anyone, Ms. Madu highlights the need for increased awareness and a more inclusive approach to employment. She urges a reevaluation of work assignments and how families value work, advocating for a push towards diversity and equality in the workforce.
Emmanuel Onah is the assistant director at Benue State Ministry and his wife is a lecturer there. They have two children and have learned over the years to evenly distribute household chores among family members.
Mr. Onah says that, because the work is shared, they have a great family bond and work jointly for the progress of their home. His children often clean the house and wash dishes while his wife prepares the meals, with support from him and the children.
He says that, with his wife’s busy schedule, she needs all the support she can get. He adds, “I derive pleasure in carrying out household chores in my house and this gives me a sense of responsibility and support.”
Mr. Onah continues: “With all pleasure, I support household chores like bathing and dressing my eight-year-old son in preparation for school. I also assist in going to the market, delivering children at school, and doing the laundry.”
Mrs. Onah says she appreciates the support she gets from her husband and kids, which helps reduce the pressure and stress of work and household tasks. It also gives her free time on the weekend for other activities. Mrs. Onah concludes, “I am grateful for the support I receive from my family.”
This resource was produced through the ‘UCARE – Unpaid Care in sub-Saharan Africa‘ initiative, which aims to increase gender equality and women’s empowerment through a commitment to more just and equitable sharing of unpaid care and domestic work within the household and the family in sub-Saharan Africa. The project is implemented in partnership with Farm Radio International (FRI), UN Women, and The African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) thanks to funding from Global Affairs Canada.