Abstract

This thesis explores the increasing incidence of conjugal violence in Nigeria, and how the construction of masculinity is one of the challenging dynamics concerning this issue. The cultural construction of masculinity in Nigeria is a result of the complicated intermingling of historical, local, traditional and global processes that are mediated by several factors, including age, ethnicity and status. Gender relations and constructs are complex, which means male dominance and privilege cannot be assumed. Thus, domestic violence serves as a medium through which masculinity is studied. The results of this research suggests a relationship between the prevailing predominant culture and its social values, the perspectives held of masculinity, and the actions of a certain 'type' of man---the "wife batterer". The data derives from two group interviews with male participants who engage in conjugal violence, and were held in Lagos and Abuja in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The men's narratives expose their world view regarding women, marriage and family, the cultural context through which the men justify their behaviour toward their wives, as well as the cultural norms and values that these men use to construct their notions of masculinity.