Masculinity, Cultural Norms, and Sexualized Substance Use

Afrocentric Insights into Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The consumption of psychoactive substances before or during sexual activity poses serious challenges to women’s sexual and reproductive health in Nigeria. In Benue State, culturally dominant constructions of masculinity, often equated with sexual strength and virility encourage the use of alcohol, herbal aphrodisiacs and “manpower” substances to enhance male sexual performance. While these practices are intended to affirm male identity, they frequently expose women to coerced or prolonged sexual encounters, unprotected sex, unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. This paper examined how masculinity, cultural norms, and SSU intersect to shape women’s sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Using secondary data sources, the study analyzed how inadequate sex education, cultural perceptions, polygamy and environmental conditions reinforce women’s vulnerability to the consequences of SSU. The analysis is anchored highlight how male-dominated sexual practices and gendered power relations undermine women’s health in African contexts. Findings reveal that entrenched cultural expectations of male sexual performance remain central drivers of SSU and its associated risks for women. The paper recommends culturally grounded interventions that challenge harmful masculinities, expand sexual and reproductive health education, and promote inclusive policies that engage traditional leaders, religious institutions, and women’s networks. By centering Afrocentric perspectives, the study contributes to rethinking how gender and cultural norms shape women’s sexual and reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa.