Nigerian man challenges husbands who stop wives working but insist on female doctors
A Nigerian man recently took to social media to address a troubling double standard among some husbands: forbidding their wives from working while simultaneously insisting on the presence of female doctors when those wives require medical care especially during childbirth. He pointed out the irony that a husband may bar his wife from employment or public engagement for fear of “influence” or “impropriety,” yet he will demand a female doctor attend her just because he believes no male doctor should touch his wife.
In his message he argued that such behaviour undermines not only his wife’s autonomy but also her value and agency. He asked: if you don’t trust your wife to earn a living, mix in public, or pursue a career, then why would you trust another woman (the female doctor) more than you trust your wife in times of emergency? He said that the insistence on female doctors can result in dangerous delays when no female specialist is available, and that it elevates gender stereotypes over practicality and safety.
He went further to say that respect for one’s wife should include allowing her the dignity to work, to engage in the world, and to make choices rather than confining her. He noted that the same mindset that demands a female doctor is often rooted in the view of the woman as “property” rather than person. The man urged other husbands to reconsider their attitudes, to support their wives’ careers if she so chooses, and to focus on competence and care rather than gender when it comes to medical professionals.
