Things a Typical Home-Grown Nigerian Woman Should Not Be Caught Doing or Saying

The Nigerian society expects certain behaviours from women because women are regarded as mothers and future mothers of the society and certain misconducts are frowned at.

Here a few things that a typical home-grown Nigerian woman should never be caught doing or saying in public:

Smoking

A Nigerian woman who smokes in public is regarded as irresponsible and sexually loose. Most people can hardly condone men who smoke but a woman who smokes is considered a real nuisance. People still stare at women who smoke in Nigeria (it is not a common sight). Women who smoke in Nigeria do so in certain places like clubs (which is also regarded as a place where no decently brought-up woman should be seen!). Most non smoking parents will rather die than allow their son marry a woman who smokes. It is common knowledge in Nigeria that most men who smoke, do not want to marry women who smoke (but would rather sleep with them instead).

Drinking Alcohol

No self respecting woman should be caught drinking alcohol like a fish, because it is a common belief that a woman who drinks excessively will behave indecently (which sometimes is not far from the truth). Most people believe that ill brought-up women (mostly from the slums) drink excessively. If a woman must drink excessively, she should not do it in public! Most Nigerians are nosey and they would start counting the number of drinks you have had at a seating. They would go around telling all and sundry that you are an "oloti" (drinker) and that is not a reputation that any decent Nigerian woman would want to have.

Flirting Shamelessly With Men

Flirting with men (shamelessly or not) is not what many Nigerians approve of. Women who flirt with men are perceived as loose. Most Nigerian men cannot tell the subtle difference between flirting and actual come-ons. Most people have little tolerance for women who flirt with men and would jump at the opportunity to bash the woman's reputation, if she is seen flirting with men.

Telling People That You Cannot Cook

Most people believe that every Nigerian woman should know how to cook, period. Telling people that you are a lousy cook is never advisable because Nigerian men want to brag about how great their wives or a girlfriend cooking is. The art of cooking decent meals at a minimal cost is the first thing a Nigerian woman is taught as a young girl. No Nigerian man would touch a woman with a 50 foot pole if he hears that she is a lousy cook or worse still, if she doesn't know how to boil water!

The society expects a woman to act in a responsible manner and have some home economic skills that would benefit her family members. Many Nigerian women are obsessed with getting married and raising a family, and they would abstain from acts that could possibly destroy their chances of settling down to family life.