Since February, Nigeria鈥檚 Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, have been in the news over allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of power against Akpabio. But beyond the glaring injustice done to Akpoti-Uduaghan, there鈥檚 an icky thing going on 鈥� everyone refers to the Senate President by his last name (Akpabio) but calls the Kogi Senator by her first name (Natasha).

Chances are you haven鈥檛 noticed this, or maybe you did and thought it was just you. It鈥檚 not. The media and the general public are guilty of this, and the reason is simple: gender bias.

But unlike some other forms of gender bias and discrimination, usually driven by men, both men and women are guilty of reinforcing this habit.

No, you鈥檙e not imagining it

If this article stopped here, you might begin to notice a pattern in how men and women are addressed in professional settings and be tempted to dismiss it as a coincidence, but it鈥檚 not. It鈥檚 a real thing, and there is data to prove it.

It happens across the globe

The phenomenon of men being addressed by their last names and women being denied the same is one of those things that can be dismissed in arguments as 鈥渋magined,鈥� but big-time statistician Edwards Deming everyone except God must bring data to back their claims. I don鈥檛 make the rules.

A 2018 by psychologists Stav Atir and Melissa Ferguson titled 鈥楬ow gender determines the way we speak about professionals,鈥� made some pretty interesting findings, and I鈥檒l help you understand them.

In eight studies which combined archival and experimental methods, the psychologists observed that 鈥淢en and women were, on average, more than twice as likely to describe a male (vs. female) professional by their surname in domains, such as science, literature, and politics.鈥�

Here鈥檚 a curious one 鈥� after testing and confirming that 4,494 students across several universities were 55.9% more likely to refer to their male professors by their surname than their female counterparts, they did another test to see if male professors described with 鈥渟tereotypically feminine traits (pretty, cute, helpful, understanding, kind, supportive, emotional, or meek),鈥� would enjoy the same privileges as those described with stereotypically male traits (analytical, easygoing, brilliant, tough, arrogant, or rude). They found that those associated with feminine traits were more likely to be called by their first names, while the ones described with masculine traits were more likely to be called by their surnames.

If you haven鈥檛 been understanding my French, here鈥檚 what this study says 鈥� being associated with masculinity increases a person鈥檚 chances of being called by their surnames.

Psychologists Atir and Ferguson didn鈥檛 stop there; they carried out similar tests in the media and found that political pundits often referred to men by their surname and rarely did the same for women. They found the same thing in science, where male scientists were mostly addressed by their surnames as opposed to females.

Why is this a thing?

While the study did not carry out experiments to answer this question definitively, one of its authors, Atir, believes the first-name-for-women phenomenon might stem from the perception that surnames are inherently male. This perception hinges on the reality that men often keep the surnames assigned to them at birth, while women are more likely to change theirs due to marriage. Additionally, surnames are typically passed on from father to child rather than mother to child.

Atir explains that, while it is yet to be proven, these factors might explain why women are referred to in professional settings by their first or full names instead of surnames  鈥� to properly identify their gender.

Why is this bad?

Calling women in leadership, politics, and other professional settings by their first names has far-reaching consequences. Speaking to 91大神 Citizen on the dangers of this practice, Writer/Editor and Communications Strategist Nana Sule referenced Harry Potter author JK Rowling鈥檚 lived experience.

鈥淭he first thing that came to me was how J.K. Rowling famously used initials instead of her full name because her publisher believed a book by a woman might not appeal to male readers,鈥� Sule said, pointing out that it is part of the broader issue caused by the disregard and disempowerment of feminine names in professional settings.

Sule stresses that first-naming women in professional settings while calling men by their last names reinforces subtle power imbalances as the “casual familiarity (that comes with a first name) can diminish a woman’s perceived authority, while men maintain a level of professional distance and respect.鈥�

Stav Atir expressed similar opinions while speaking to the US-based news site Today.com in 2024. 鈥淲e know the first name is kind of more associated with familiarity,鈥� Stav said, explaining that it most often conveys informality and familiarity, suggesting that the person is more approachable and less authoritative. In contrast, surnames carry an air of importance and assertiveness, signalling respectability and a level of detachment that commands authority.

In politics and leadership roles, for instance, referring to women by their first names while using surnames for men can undermine the authority and perceived competence of female leaders, regardless of their actual abilities. This may explain the excessive scrutiny imposed on female candidates during elections 鈥� the reason society tosses away their achievements, experiences, certificates and awards while obsessively digging into their personal lives. It may be the reason why awful behaviours and outright physical punches in parliament are excused for male politicians while their female counterparts are over-scrutinised even without wrongdoings.

All of this, according to Louisville Political Review, the already existing gender gap.

How can it be stopped?

鈥淲hat we must do is be intentional about language,鈥� Nana Sule told 91大神 Citizen.

鈥淥rganizations should standardize naming conventions in meetings, emails, and official documents, ensuring that women鈥檚 last names are used just as frequently as men鈥檚,鈥� she continued, adding that women should 鈥渁lso assert their preferences by signing emails and introducing themselves formally.鈥� Sule also believes that creating awareness through workplace training and media representation can go a long way to change things.

鈥淪mall changes in how we address women in professional spaces can have a lasting impact on how their authority and expertise are perceived,鈥� Sule said.

In a for the US-based radio, WBUR, Gender Equity experts Dr. Amy Diehl and Dr. Leanne M. Dzubinski offered a strong pointer for countering the first-name bias: responding with the appropriate surname  anytime a female leader is called by her first name. While their suggestion was specifically in reference to former US Vice President Kamala Harris, this simple exercise can prove effective in similar situations.

So, the next time someone says 鈥淣atasha,鈥� it is your duty to respond with 鈥淎kpoti-Uduaghan.鈥� When they say Achebe and then Buchi Emecheta, ask, 鈥淲hy not Emecheta?鈥� Because while women鈥檚 first names may be collectively used to mark their gender, Emecheta鈥檚 identity has been established for decades now 鈥� yet the continued use of her first name, while her male counterparts are referred to by their surname, reinforces the flawed belief that women are inferior to men.

And because we are all guilty of this by default, you must also remind yourself it is Okonjo-Iweala, not Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. It鈥檚 Kingibe, not Ireti. It鈥檚 Oshoala, not Asisat Oshoala, and more importantly, it is Akpoti-Uduaghan, not Natasha.

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This revelation and a 2023 of back-to-back sexual harassment exposures led us to put together a timeline that went back to the early 2000s with more than 20 high-profile cases, mostly students as victims of their lecturers鈥� inappropriate advances and often ending in silence.

Another sex-for-grades situation

On May 26, 2024, X user CHIKAMMA (@AlexVivyNnabue) called out her former UNIBEN philosophy lecturer, Dr Tony Asekhuno, accusing him of rape. Her opened the floodgates of accusations from the lecturer’s other alleged victims. 

According to their tweets, he鈥檇 fail his victims if they refused to date, get intimate with him or follow him to the 鈥渟taff club鈥�. And sometimes, he鈥檇 rape them.

He was called out five years ago

But CHIKAMMA鈥檚 call-out started years ago when she posted in 2019. The screenshots appear to be WhatsApp messages sent from a male friend who was forced to drop out. The same lecturer insisted on sex for grades, hinting that his harassment wasn鈥檛 limited to his female students.聽

The long thread also details his inclination to spike students鈥� drinks. And apparently, the UNIBEN management was aware of his bad behaviour but did nothing.聽聽

Many more accusations

In the last three days, multiple X users have shared their experiences of varying levels of abuse from the lecturer. The public has called for further investigation by the relevant law enforcement and justice for the victims.

We have contacted the original accuser, CHIKAMMA, for more details to increase the chances of legal action. This is a developing story.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS: A Timeline of Silence: Why Does Sexual Violence Have Little Consequence?

When women complain about sexual harassment, the typical question that follows is, 鈥淲here were you?鈥� implying that they had to be in a questionable location for it to happen. 

But what happens when the harassment happens somewhere that鈥檚 supposed to be safe? Seven Nigerian women share their experience with sexual harassment in situations where they least expected it鈥檇 happen.

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At the gynaecologist鈥檚 office

鈥� Audrey, 27

I went to the hospital for a pap smear, and the male gynaecologist kept saying I had a beautiful face. I was uncomfortable, but I politely smiled and said, 鈥淭hank you鈥�. When it was time for the smear, he directed a female student doctor to do it. I was immediately relieved, but my relief was short-lived. 

Anyone who鈥檚 taken a smear test knows you鈥檙e naked from the waist down, knees in the air, and entirely exposed when the speculum is inserted. The person performing the test usually sits at eye level of your cervix. In this case, it was the female student doctor. But this guy stood behind the female doctor all through, staring at my cervix. He made it seem like he was directing the student, but he was staring at me, and even commented that I had a 鈥渂eautiful cervix鈥�.

When the student was done, she had issues with removing the speculum. So, this guy reached in 鈥� with ungloved hands 鈥� to remove it. Then he slightly tapped my vagina. I felt violated, but I wasn鈥檛 sure if I was thinking too much about it. After the test, he asked for my WhatsApp number so he could 鈥渇orward the results鈥� to me. I didn鈥檛 report him. Who would take me seriously in a government hospital? 

In her home

鈥� Nini*, 24

My dad had a stroke a few years ago that left him mute and immobile. After the initial treatment at the hospital, he was discharged, and my family paid for a physiotherapist to come help with his movement thrice a week.

I was usually the only one at home when the physiotherapist came, and he soon started flirting with me. I didn鈥檛 think he was serious, so I鈥檇 just laugh him off. He was much older and really friendly. He would say stuff like, 鈥淪hey you鈥檒l be my second wife?鈥� but I didn鈥檛 see the need to complain to my mum.

Then, one day, he asked me to help him move my dad for a particular exercise. When I did, he grabbed and kissed me. My dad鈥檚 back was turned, but he was literally in the room! I screamed, and he must鈥檝e panicked because he hurriedly left. He never came back to treat my dad.

In a place of worship

鈥� Moyin*, 21

I used to have nightmares as a 12-year-old, and my typical Nigerian mum decided I needed deliverance. I was taken to one ori-oke (mountain top) for a three-day vigil, and my mum wasn鈥檛 allowed to stay with me. 

It was a youth-focused deliverance program, so every other person was underage like me. On the last night, we had to meet the religious head individually for special prayers. He wasn鈥檛 alone when I got to his office. There was one other man and two women holding candles, praying. They made me lie on my back on the floor, and the religious head lay spread out on top of me. I think it was supposed to be a power transfer or healing thing.

I should note that we were both fully clothed, but the man was moving back and forth on top of me. It went on for about five minutes before I was asked to leave. I only realised years later that this man was actually grinding on me with a full-on erection.

RELATED: A Timeline of Silence: Why Does Sexual Violence Have Little Consequence?

At the office

鈥� Lola, 29

I once had a boss who, for the one year I worked with him, didn鈥檛 hide the fact that he wanted to sleep with me. 

Anytime he managed to catch me alone, he鈥檇 smack my ass or pinch my cheeks. When he noticed I deliberately tried to avoid him, he鈥檇 give me never-ending tasks or shout at me for no reason. I endured it for a year because I was dead broke and wasn鈥檛 about to leave my salary without having another job lined up.

In a police station

鈥� Flora*, 31

A friend was picked up by the police for riding on an okada, so I went with some of his family to try to get him released. The officer handling his case leered at me all through the time we were there. 

At first, I ignored him, and he kept frustrating us. But my friend鈥檚 brother begged me to try to be friendly with the officer so he鈥檇 be more helpful. I plastered a smile on my face, and sure enough, the officer became helpful. When my friend was finally released, the officer went, 鈥淲on鈥檛 you hug me to say thank you?鈥� I acted like I didn鈥檛 hear him and walked out of the station as fast as I could.

In the library

鈥� Sarah, 19

I used to visit a public library close to my home frequently until the day a man exposed his genitals to me. 

He was sitting across from me, and I noticed he kept fidgeting. After a while, he called my attention and gestured under the desk, implying that I had dropped something. I bent to look and instantly came face to face with his genitals. I was too shocked to say anything, and immediately moved to another section. There were a few other people in the library, but I kept thinking, 鈥淲hat if he comes to meet me here?鈥� So, I just decided to leave altogether. It was crazy.

With a family member

鈥� Danielle*, 22

When I was around 6 years old, there was this uncle who regularly visited. I really disliked him because he always made me sit on his legs even when I protested.

My parents didn鈥檛 mind, but the day I complained to my mum that there was 鈥渟omething in his pocket鈥� that always poked me was when I stopped seeing him at our house. Now, I know what the something in his pocket was, but I wish my parents had prevented him from making me sit on his legs in the first place. That鈥檒l never happen to my kids.

*Some names have been changed for anonymity.

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In different locations all over the world, people are holding protests to call for the end of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

During these protests, people are demanding their right to live freely without being profiled. However, female protesters are announcing incidences of sexual violence from protesters.

Sexual harassment is one of the most prevailing forms ofwomen in Nigeria, and Africa as a whole face. It can happen online or offline. Sexual harassment can happen anywhere: places of worship, institutions of learning and protests.

Unwanted, inappropriate actions towards women or people of any gender should not be condoned. Cat-calling, sexual comments, suggestive words, unwarranted touches, are all examples of sexual harassment.

Women should be allowed to exercise their basic human rights without fear of sexual harassment. They should be able to protest, work, drive, and even walk on the streets without being sexually harassed.

Women should not have to be wary of male protesters during a protest against harassment and violence. We ask that the people be watchful. Protect the women protesters. If you notice any man making a female protester uncomfortable, ring an alarm.