The dynamics of gender-based violence in the contemporary nigerian society: An exploration of Aiwanose Odafen’s tomorrow I become a woman

Abstract

ne of the persistent problems that cuts across cultures, religions and class is gender-based violence. It has adversely affected women in  the public and private domain. Sadly, deeply ingrained patriarchal beliefs in the psyche of women which make them accept abuse and  their position of servitude has made the problem to persist. By adopting the African feminist theory, this study examines the dynamics of  this hydra-headed monster as exemplified in Aiwanose Odafen‟s <i>Tomorrow I Become a Woman (2022)</i>. The study reveals that gender- based violence can only be brought to an end when women take pragmatic steps that will change the narrative and raise a generation of  assertive women and girls who refuse to normalise abuse. The study also posits that in order to engender desired emancipation, women  need to take a radical approach which may seem alien to African beliefs. It concludes that men should also join the vanguard for change  and participate in the cultural reorientation of men who perpetrate the act and women who accept the abnormality.