' I will show the man pepper ': Factors underlying male spousal abuse in Lagos metropolis.

This article examines the prevalence and underlying factors of spousal abuse against men in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria, challenging the common perception that spousal abuse primarily victimizes women. Using qualitative data from interviews and focus groups with male victims, married men and women, and key informants such as lawyers and police officers, the study identifies factors contributing to male victimization including family history of violence, financial difficulties, unmet emotional needs, media influence, and power imbalances when wives are more financially stable. The research applies the chivalry hypothesis—which suggests women offenders receive leniency due to gender stereotypes—and the women liberation theory, which links increased female offending to expanded social roles, to explain why male victimization is underreported and socially minimized. The study highlights the need for increased media attention and societal support to address the silence surrounding male victims of spousal abuse in Nigeria's patriarchal context.