[SPECIAL REPORT] Inside the world of young men, women shattering stereotypes in male, female-dominated fields

Nigeria is of recent witnessing impressive gender switch in job domains particularly in the informal sector. Jobs that were hitherto tagged ‘men only’ are now being actively taken up by women and vice versa.

Gender segregation remains the most persistent shortcoming of the labour market. While the emphasis is usually placed on the gender equality as it affects women – the stereotypes and challenges that men face are not to be ignored.

A tale of two worlds: Male stylist attending to a female customer and a female barber attending to a male customer pic.twitter.com/mUfClZ4N39

— NewsClick Nigeria Media (@NewsClickng) June 28, 2025

It is great to see that women in their numbers are also offering services in sectors that used to be exclusively reserved for men. This not only makes them feel some attraction but also encourages other women to toe the same line.

According to McKinsey Global Institute, a global research firm, gender equality at work will occur when issues like education level, financial and digital inclusion, legal protection, and unpaid care work are addressed.

“Both advanced and developing countries stand to gain if women participate in the labour force at the same rate as men, work the same number of hours as men, and are employed at the same levels as men across sectors,” the Institute added.

A report by US thinktank the Council on Foreign Relations’ women and foreign policy programme highlights that Nigeria’s gross domestic product could rise by 23% by 2025 if women were equally engaged in the country’s economy as men.

Experts say that although the Nigerian constitution advocates gender equality, women are still economically marginalised because of cultural norms and gender stereotypes.

“Women should have the opportunity to contribute to the economy. Unfortunately, in some parts of the country, cultural and religious barriers tempt society to confine women to specific roles. There are still people who believe that women should not be allowed to take up certain jobs,” An economics professor at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto explained.

In 2022, Nigeria ranked 123 out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum’s gender gap index, underscoring significant gender disparities and inequalities in various aspects of the country. Despite a population approaching 225 million, only about 60.5 million people are active participants in Nigeria’s labour force and, according to the World Bank, female labour force participation in the country has fallen markedly since the early 1990s. The World Bank reported that the labour force engagement rate for women in 2022 was 52%, while for men it stood at 65%.

However, the job switches is not without it’s challenges particularly for young ladies braving to take-up male-dominated jobs. Some of them opened on the stereotypes and challenges to NewsClick Nigeria:

 

How I transitioned from hairdressing to barbing – Ayomide 

18-year-old Ayomide didn’t learn barbing from the start. She initially started out as hairdresser and after tons of compliments from her customers decided to try her hands on barbing and the experience has been worth the while for her.

She said, ‘’What inspired me to go into barbing, even though I’m actually a hairdresser, was the feedback I kept getting from people—especially male clients who I lock their hair. They’d say things like, “Ayo, why don’t you start barbing? You already make us look good, why not complete the package?” I thought about it and realized it was a great idea.

“Interestingly, before I even started learning hairdressing, I had a childhood dream of becoming a barber. But after I completed hairdressing training, I initially felt there was no need to pursue barbing again. Over time though, while working on male clients, I realized I have been developing interest in it and decided to follow through with that childhood dream,” she explained.

Ayo’s standout as one of the few female barbers in her area further oiled her passion and admiration from customers.

“Being a female barber is quite unusual in my area, which makes me stand out. Most guys who walk into the shop want me to cut their hair. Even some who didn’t plan to barb end up doing so just because I’m there. This gives us an edge and draws more customers. In my area, it’s really rare to see a female barber and some don’t intend to barb their hair but because there is a lady in the shop, they would come and some will use that opportunity to collect my number.

“The hairstyle I enjoy barbing is low cut.  This is my favorite. It’s simple but technical because it depends on the hair’s direction. If you don’t follow the right direction, it messes up the haircut and is hard to fix—unlike braiding, which can be redone. And their some hair despite the damage, it can be adjusted and it won’t be obvious. And my other favorite is skin punk. Very easy and perfect for beginners. You just clear everything, increase your clipper’s level, and go. No need to worry about directions.”

Sharing some of the tips to retaining customers and attracting prospective ones, she said the act of simple courtesy can go a long way.

“Well, it’s just a normal thing. Just like when we’re still learning hairdressing, and once customers come to the shop and want to make their hair, we make them feel comfortable. I could just smile, “Okay ma, what style do you want to do?” Even though she’s frowning, we just try to cheer her up. Even though the hair she wants to do, maybe she’s doubting that we won’t be able to do it well for her. You know, that kind of customer strategy. We just smile, “Mama don’t worry, I will do it.” We try to convince her that we can give her the best ever.

“Like, make them feel like there’s no other place they can get this exact performance. We make them believe we are professionals. So in barbing, once a customer comes in and wants to barb their hair, we just let them. “Okay fine, which style do you want to barb?” And when they get to doubt us or feel uncomfortable, we just give them a smile, you understand? Sometimes we have a chilled sweet in the shop. Just give them: “Do you mind having one?”

 

How I braced the odds to become a surveyor – Miss Faith  

Faith actually wanted to become a medical doctor. However, after successful attempts at getting the course, her father suggested she go for surveying and she is today proud one.

“What actually motivated me to be a surveyor is my father. I never wanted to be a surveyor; I just found myself there, because I didn’t get my desired course at University of Ilorin, so I went to Bells to do a JUPEP course. My father asked what course I would love to choose, and he suggested his choice of field. I said, ‘Let’s give it a try,’ and I’m just someone who doesn’t want to do a female-based course.

I have always wanted to be different. And I’m really happy that I did it. I just see that nothing is difficult as long as you put your mind to it, and if you’re intentional and willing to put in all the efforts, trust me, you will get there.”

For Faith, the challenges in the profession include relegation of women in leadership roles.

“And that choice has empowered me to know that nothing is difficult, though challenges will come one’s way. There aren’t really many challenges for female surveyors, but the only challenge I see is in the political area of the profession, where they just want men to dominate as chairmen and vice chairmen, and a woman can’t be a chairman except for a few roles. Top leaders in the profession believe that women are welcome into male-dominated professions, but they also believe that top leadership positions are reserved for men, while minor positions are for women. That’s the major issue, because if a woman is able to attain top positions, it broadens the profession and makes it better for females within it.

Women in the surveying profession are really doing fine and doing great things, and more women are coming into the profession.”

 

I refund customers not comfortable with male stylists – Olawale 

Olawale grew up amongst ladies and this naturally induced his love for hair making. While some customers find his work attractive and gladly patronises him, others who book through his social media account and are not comfortable with him making their hair are refunded.

“I was inspired my childhood experiences, because when I was younger, I have ladies around me that make hair, and mostly they show me how to do it in order to help them finish earlier, got to a point I realized I catch up with with really fast and I noticed I’m happy while doing it and decide to pursue it professionally.

“Facing stereotypes as a male hairstylist happens, but once in a while, sometimes when a client booked through our Instagram page and they forget to read the bio which indicates “ A male hairstylist “ when they later realized  and they are not comfortable with it , we do refund and live goes on.

Common mistakes people makes in hairstyling , it’s about product usage , and inability to buy original products, getting original products improve your job and gives your styling a perfect outcome.”

 

How I conquered stereotypes as a male locktician – Damola 

Damola started out as a barber but later took interest in locks when it appeared it was more lucrative. However, some people who felt he was operating in ‘women space’ didn’t buy of his idea when he started. But with a rare determination and sustained passion, Damola soon shattered the glass ceiling to become one of the most sought after in his area.

“I started out as a barber, but over time I noticed how clients—especially those with locks—were willing to pay more for maintenance and styling. It struck me that not only was it more profitable, but I also enjoyed the creative freedom it offered. The passion comes from seeing people walk away confident, knowing I helped them look and feel good. That satisfaction keeps me going.

“Yes, I faced sterotypes especially in the early days. Some people didn’t take me seriously because hairstyling—especially locks and natural hair—is often seen as a “women’s space.” But I didn’t let that stop me. I focused on mastering my craft, building a loyal client base, and letting my work speak for itself. Now, my skills shut down any doubt,” he explained.

Demola maintains high level of professionalism when dealing with loyal and prospective clients.

“I love working with dreadlocks—starter locks, retwists, and styling. There’s something artistic about how you can shape and design locks. They also last longer, and clients appreciate that. Plus, for me as a professional, it’s efficient and brings in better income compared to regular cuts or braids.

“First, I make sure I’m welcoming and listen to what the client wants. I ask questions, suggest options, and always aim to make it feel like a collaborative process. Once they feel heard and respected, they relax. I also keep my tools clean and maintain a calm, positive vibe in the shop—that goes a long way.

“A lot of people don’t moisturise their scalp or they over-wash their locks, thinking that keeps it clean. In truth, it dries out the hair and can lead to breakage. I always advise using natural oils and a proper hair care routine tailored to their hair type. Simplicity and consistency are key.”

He has a mentor and embraces trends in social media to up his game.

“Definitely. There’s a senior locktician here in Lagos I used to watch closely when I was still barbing. I admired how he ran his salon, handled clients, and styled hair with so much ease. He didn’t mentor me formally, but observing him influenced my professionalism and helped me raise my standards.

Social media helps a lot—Instagram, TikTok, even YouTube. I follow other lockticians and natural hair stylists globally to see what’s trending. Also, I talk to my clients. I ask them what they like, what they’ve seen, and I adjust. Staying relevant is about paying attention and being willing to learn constantly.”

Some men wouldn’t allow me lay hands on their head – Female barber, Cynthia Adeojo 

The desire to prove that truly, what a man can do, a woman can do better made Cynthia Adeojo took interest in barbing, being a male-dominated vocation. While has been successful at it from her days of apprenticeship to being a boss, however, she has faced her share of stereotypes as some of her customers still find it difficult allowing ‘a woman touch or barb their hair’.

“What inspired me was the fact that it is a male-dominated field dominated. I can remember vividly where I learnt the skill, we had just few female apprentice like myself, the rest were male. That made me put in every effort to be the best because I believe what a man can do, a woman can do even much better.

“Yes,  I face stereotypes on daily basis. Sometimes a customer just walks into my shop and demands to be attended to by man, where I don’t even have a single male apprentice. Myself being a female and boss and my apprentices too, all female. According to them, they don’t want a woman laying hands on their head and some even feel as a female barber,  I won’t be able to do justice to the haircut but one thing is I am good at convincing with a trial. I just talk them into giving me a trial and guess what? They end up being my regular customers because I sure know my onions,” she said.