How Nigerian Women Conducted Themselves in the Old Days

Nigerian women in the old days lived by certain rules and regulations, and were not expected to break these rules because they could be hell to pay if she did.

Here are some of the ways women were expected to conduct themselves in the old days

Thou Shalt Not Speak Unless Spoken To

Women were never allowed to speak in the presence of men (unless off course she was spoken to) because if she does, she would be perceived as rude and her parents and family members will be constantly judged by the society. If she is married, her husband will be perceived as a weakling and he would be advised to take another wife, because it will help to keep his wife in check. Women were seen and not heard in the old days.

Thou Shalt Not Enjoy Sex

A woman who enjoyed sex in the old days was constantly watched by her husband because; the act of enjoying sex was considered a man's priority and a woman is expected to lie there and scream from excruciating pain (women were advised to do this by their mothers, because doing this could help boost the man's ego). If a woman enjoyed sex, she would be perceived by her husband as having wanton tendencies and her husband will watch her like a hawk.

An unmarried girl must be a virgin before she gets married, because if she is not; her family name would be dragged through the mud and every young man would be advised by family members and friends never to take a wife from her family.

Thou Shalt Not Climb

Women were never allowed to climb trees or tall objects, because it was simply forbidden. Some historians have argued that the reason could be because women in the old days didn't wear panties or undergarments and climbing up could expose their middle area for all to see.

Some women used this law to threaten lazy husbands to fix their leaking huts because if a woman was found fixing her hut herself, her husband will be put to shame. It is a husband's responsibility to climb high places and having his wife do his task for him is considered a low blow to his male ego.

Thou Shalt Not Touch Anything During Her Monthly Period

Women were considered unclean during their monthly periods. She was never allowed to cook her husband's meals or sit in his presence during her monthly cycle, it was forbidden! After the completion of her monthly cycle, she would perform a cleansing ritual before she can be allowed to resume cooking her husband's meals and sitting or standing in his presence.

Thou Shalt Not Cheat On Her Husband

A woman should never cheat on her husband in the old days because if she was caught, she would be thoroughly dealt with. Some cultures would have her put to death! Every household had a deity that is worshiped by the entire household and if a woman cheats on her husband, the household god would inflict the cheating woman with a strange illness that can only be cured if or when she confesses her sin to her husband.