Nigerian men make inroads into women-dominated jobs
By Alice A Afolayan
A number of Nigerian men are gradually pushing for spaces in jobs hitherto dominated by women across the country, a check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reveals.
NAN reports that men in the country are visibly operating eateries, hair dressing salons, makeup shops, fixing nails and eyelashes.
Some are into formal jobs such as nursing, flight attendant and secretarial duties among others, which were hitherto exclusively for women.
A cross section of those interviewed by NAN on Thursday in Abuja attributed the gender `breach’ to the high level of unemployment in the country.
They said people now no longer choose jobs, and those with skills in any area go for it irrespective of whether they would be viewed as encroaching into women’s territory.
“Unemployment is pushing most men to take up jobs long viewed exclusively as female dominated jobs in Nigeria,” Mr Jacob Tivkaa, an Uber Driver said.
He however said some of the trades such as hairstyling “are well paid jobs and men venture into them and even take it up as full time career”.
Mr Samuel Okai, a cosmetologist in Gwagwalada, said that he ventured into this line of career because of the harsh economic situation he found himself.
“I am not a lazy person, so when I could not find a job, I decided to make good use of myself by becoming a cosmetologist.
“I have been in this line of business for 10 years and I am glad that I started. I am now an employee of labour. I have about six staff and seven trainees under me.
“I make averagely about N60,000 daily and I pay my staff much more than the national minimum wage. In our line of business, we pay the staff members per hour, so I pay my staff five thousand per hour,” he said.
A resident of Garki, Mrs Victoria Folowosele, said the male hairstylists she patronise were very good at their job.
“Most male hairstylists are really good in some specific hair do and nail treatment than some females.
“The world is changing, I remember back in the days when we look at male stylists as gay, but this is not the situation now.
“Sometimes when they fix your hair, you’ll think you’re wearing a wig because the weavings underneath isn’t pronounced, and when you pack the hair upward, the whole thing just looks real.
“I think these guys have studied hair making after seen where female hairstylists are missing it,” she said.
Mr Victor Oloruntoba, a confidential secretary, said he was comfortable with his job.
“I don’t believe that there are specific jobs for women and males. My belief is that as long as you are good and okay in a job, and that the job gives you the money you need, then do it; I am okay with my job,” he said.
Mrs Rejoice Ukoh, a civil servant, said she was comfortable with male nurses ”because they are more caring in carrying out their duties, while some of the female nurses are often harsh and hard to deal with”.
Also, Mr Layi Bakare, a businessman, however said he finds it queer for men to engage in trades that were largely reserved for women, such as cosmetology, secretarial jobs and as flight attendants.
“I look at them as if they are gay; I don’t support men in this line of jobs at all,” Bakare added. (NAN)
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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Maharazu Ahmed
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