Financial responsibilities in marriages are majorly attributed to the husbands. This is common among spouses in Northern Nigeria. However, the rising presence and empowerment of women in the workforce has set to change this narrative.
For many working-class women, being financially independent does not only guarantee financial freedom but also comes with shared responsibilities in their marital homes. The recent turmoil in Nigeria’s inflation rate has further pushed this reality to existence.
Aishatu Muhammad, a staff at the Federal College of Education, Gombe is of the opinion that women should only contribute willingly to the family. The mother of two who spoke to WikkiTimes said wives need to support their husbands more than ever, given the unfriendly economic situation in the country.
“We need to appreciate their efforts and do our part by helping out with expenses we can afford. But I am not saying women should be forced to contribute,” she said.
Mrs Aishatu added that shared responsibilities in the home should also improve relationships between spouses and not deteriorate it.
She added, “Husbands must learn to be appreciative of what wives are contributing to the family. If your wife decides to buy food stuff today, you have to acknowledge that she did it out of kindness but it is not her responsibility.”
Fatima Auwal, a business owner, shared a similar opinion, “Times are hard and a woman must learn to give from her earnings. There is nothing wrong in coming together as partners to build your lives.”
She hinted that women are only skeptical about contributing when they find themselves in a polygamous marriage, saying even at that, some of them have no choice but to spend on their children.
“Some husbands automatically leave some responsibilities to their wives which is totally wrong. This is most common in polygamous marriages and the woman is left with no choice than to take it up,” she said.
For Rukayya Bello, a student and entrepreneur, men should fully shoulder their responsibilities without expectations from their spouses.
“Women are not built to take responsibility, willingly or not. A real man does not even accept a dime from his wife. He spoils her with his money. That’s what makes him a man,” she said.
Salisu Ibrahim, a data analyst and a husband shared the same view: “Her money is her money, my money is my money; but her needs are my responsibilities to fulfill.
“This is the base. The economy is hard or not isn’t an excuse to run away from my responsibilities. If she decides to buy something for the family, I will not stop her, but I will not ask her or go extreme to making it her part to contribute.
“We marry women who work not because we want them to contribute financially, we want them to have a career and take care of the kids after us educationally, financially and emotionally. So, to me her contribution is always insignificant, and I never consider she has something to give; she might have,” he said.
Ibrahim Abubakar, a married man and teacher, said it is necessary for women to be considerate in this hard economy.
“Men are going through a lot. If you have earnings as a wife, don’t be reluctant to spend on the family. There is nothing wrong in helping your spouse financially. Infact, it strengthens the bond between you two” he said.