The female gender is emotionally vulnerable and weak. They get carried away by sweet words and have the tendency to fall for flatteries. They are quick to fall in love and are prone to heart break, which is followed by frustration and depression. But then what about men? Men are stronger and aren’t too emotional. They only get carried away by what they see while the women get carried away by what they hear.
Girls fall prey to men due to the fact that they seek for love where it isn’t and also, most of them are vulnerable to gifts and items being offered to them. They are also ignorant of the fact that not all men are what they portray; some are someone else behind that gentleman depicted. That is why in our society, rape is on the increase, abuse and all manner of brutality against the female sex is on the rise. Just a month ago, a three month old baby girl was rushed into one of the hospitals in the area where I stay. The baby had been raped by a youth. The baby was bleeding profusely in her private part. The hospital rejected the baby, because the death of the baby was certain. What possessed a young youth barely above the age of 24 into raping a three month old baby? What on earth was he enticed with? A baby? How? Why? It’s only evident that this guy must have been involved in other rape cases.
What about other cases whereby men deceive, persuade or entice girls and make them fall for their lies? There was this case of a brother in my church, we all know him to be very spiritual, very vibrant in prayer, and also speaks in tongues. One day, one of my friend was walking past his street to her house when he called her and invited her into his house. Then, she was a very young teenager, around the age of 13. According to her, she said she had been warned never to go to a man’s house alone and she had also heard stories about girls that went to a man’s house and have lived to regret it. But then this ‘brother’ seemed so holy and righteous, he always preaches against immorality and reading of unhealthy romantic books and magazines and as such, she didn’t see anything wrong when he invited her into his house.
“I just went with what they call ‘church-mind’. When I got in, he locked the door behind me and he gave me a seat. He told me that he loved me and he had been waiting for the opportunity to tell me this. After a while he asked me to sit on his lap. That was when I became suspicious.” She said. She innocently (or foolishly) sat on his lap. He asked her to close her eyes which she did. She naively thought he wanted to give her a surprise gift, but instead he kissed her and started touching her that was when she quickly stood up from his lap. “I was already shaking and my heartbeat was increasing. I told him that I needed to go home. He tried making advances again but I moved away. That was when he reluctantly opened the door for me.” Since after that event, my friend lost confidence and trust in every male. She still finds that experience difficult to forget.
When I was growing up a young girl barely above the age of nine was raped. It had such a great effect on her emotionally, psychologically and every way possible. Till date, she never speaks to anyone apart from her family members. I really don’t see what some men gain in violating children, wasting their lives and destroying destinies. Let us all be sensitized. Parents should not relent to guide their children aright and for the females especially, dressing appropriately matters a lot (though it is not an excuse to rape anyone) and as the saying goes, ‘you are addressed the way you dress’. I have also heard of women who rape men…hmn…I guess the men too should be aware and careful…strange world we live in don’t you agree?
Chinyere Okeke
