In a world where most professions are gender-descriptive, there are certain kind of strange attachments that people make when a man is into a vocation that is supposedly meant for women.
The sight of male food vendors each morning, clutching on their dish spoons, surrounded by crowds of customers who wait eagerly to get a unique taste of a man’s delicacy, is always an alluring one to behold.
In this special report, Correspondent, Blessing Uchendu, looks at the motivation and challenges of male food vendors at the popular Eke-Awka Market.
Seeing a man prepare various delicacies and snacks, a vocation normally attributed to women, perhaps also shows that what a woman can do, a man can do even better.
One of such male food vendors, popularly known as “Mama Put” is Mr Chiwetaludo Nwankwo, who sells different rice delicacies at the market, and was seen dutifully serving his pool of waiting customers, said that he has been into the business for years, initially with his mother, but unfortunately, the mother died last year, prompting him to take over the business fully.
Another male food vendor in the same area, Obinna Mba, from Ebonyi State, who said that he was born and brought up in the business, despite also the demise of his mother, stated that he does not see any challenge doing the business which is largely seen as women’s profession, but however, said that the only challenge facing them in the business is the harsh economic situation of the country.
Another seller, Mr Ebuka Raymond, a graduate of Environmental Sciences, from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, was assisting the sister on the business, and said that they have more female customers patronizing them than the male, calling on other male youths not to sit idle waiting for quick money, but to appreciate their little beginning which would help them to support their families financially.
Some customers, including Nkechi Okeke, Ifeanyichukwu Maazi and Arinze Obiano, said they had no trouble patronizing male food vendors, arguing that men cook better than women, and called on other young males to learn handiwork and not to solely depend on their parents or the government for jobs.
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