AFRICANS, STOP STIGMATIZING UNMARRIED LADIES
Published Sep 11, 2017
Updated Jun 13, 2024
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Some years ago, a friend of mine brought another friend to stay in my room at the school hostel without prior notice. While telling me about her friend, she insisted on the fact that “she is married” as though it made her some sort of champion that we all needed to make way for. In African societies, a woman who reaches a certain age without some form of attachment to a man is considered unfortunate.
If Africans were to rewrite the first verses of 1st Corinthians 13 in the Bible for women, it would probably read something like this:
1. If I can speak 10 different languages and I am gifted with eloquence, yet I have no husband, I am nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
2. If I speak and inspire people all over and change lives and acquire a huge mansion yet I have no husband, I am nothing.
3. If I do charitable works and work so hard to make it in life but I have no husband, I’ve gotten no where. So no matter how much I achieve, I am bankrupt and pitiable without a husband…
Instead of carrying on with the beautiful things life has to offer, some women languish in self-pity because they are ‘husbandless’. It’s like having a husband is everything. It is what defines them. It is what they live for. It is what they try to get against all odds.
This is a cancer that has eaten deep into our society and we need to cure it. This cure starts with YOU. You that insults the single lady and labels her with names. You that accuses her of being insufficient because she has no man. You that keeps comparing her with others, saying, “all your mates are married.” You that pushes her till she wants to wear the Mrs. shoe even when she hasn’t found her size. You need to stop.
You that flaunt your husbands and brag about them not because you are appreciative but because you are using that as a bridge to insult the single lady. You that suddenly stops calling that friend because you are married and she isn’t. You need to to stop.
You the single lady needs to stop too. Yes, you need to take a deep breath, look deep within and value yourself. Regain that self-esteem, which you lost because you didn’t get a husband when you thought you should have gotten one. Stop hanging on men and swallowing their bullshit just because you want them to wife you. You deserve better. You need to stop.
Unfortunately, many ladies (married and single) continue to live under the shadows of men.
Woman, you are special. You have a life to live and even when you share that life with someone, always remember who you are. Marriage is not everything. It is not a must-do. Paul in the Bible wasn’t married yet his writings have blessed us in many ways. You don’t need a man to validate you.
I’m all for marriage. However, I am against society shunning the unmarried as though they are diseased or something. Let’s focus finding and accomplishing our purpose in life, married or not.
First published in my journal at Worldpulse.com.
It's indeed a vicious cycle. We can only do for one what we wish we could do for all. By this, I mean treating the unmarried ladies around us with much love and respect regardless of whether we are married or not.
How are you doing, Sold to Christ? Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
I guess it's too ingrained to expect them to change. They were born into society treating unmarried women with disdain. And the worst offenders are women, some of whose were probably treated the same way when they were unmarried.
It's a vicious cycle.
Thanks for always stopping by, dear. The Bible says laughter is good medicine so we need to laugh every now and then. Greetings to your other half. *wink*
My dear your blog na therapy especially this period where one can't even run away from the depressing news out there. I had to read 2nd corinthians chapter 13 again and showed your post to my other half. We were all smiles and I bet u that particular Bible chapter will never be so ordinary again. You take people's pain away with your very creative and humorous posts. May God continue to bless you and your beloved family. Amen
Welcome on board, dear.
From today I would start reading your blog Precious.Long time !! Stay blesses honey
Don't mind them oo it's really bad in Nigeria my neighbor in school has it really bad if u are single and u greet her husband dia ll be trouble can sum1 please tell d married women dat behave like that say we ain't interested in dia men..
Ow is Mr N n d kids
No be so? Society really has to change the way women are groomed. Emotional maturity is important as you say. Marriage doesn't come with happiness. People put happiness into marriage. Thanks for adding your voice to this, sis!
Hahahahahahahahaha that ya 1Cor 13 according to the version of African men na die. I Laughed out loud! As always, you talk about something serious with so much humour which captivates the reader. Society has to change the way they groom women and what aspirations they make them aspire to. Women need to take care of themselves too before they start thinking of settling down. If you lack emotional maturity and pin your happiness only on being married, you will never be happy.
Hah na wah for those women oo. Mr N and the kids are fine. Thanks for asking. Hope you are good too.