A multitude of fears plague many of us, from common apprehensions like animals, water, and fire to more uncommon ones such as fear of dark rooms. Yet, one particular case has recently gained attention, where a 71-year-old man has been reputedly consumed by an intense dread of women. Allegedly, for the past 55 years, Callitxe Nzamwita, a resident of Rwanda, has barricaded himself within his residence, motivated by his profound aversion to female company. Erecting a formidable 15-foot fence, he aimed to ensure that no woman could breach his sanctuary. In an earlier interview, he elucidated, “The reason I locked myself inside here and have a fence on my house is because I want to make sure that women will not come closer to me.” He candidly admitted that interactions with women triggered an overwhelming sense of fear within him.
Ironically, despite his deep-seated fear, it’s the local women, particularly his neighbors, who extend a helping hand to ensure his survival. According to one of his female neighbors, he has seldom left his premises since childhood. They narrated how they provided him with essential food and grocery items, albeit from a distance as he prefers minimal contact. Consequently, they toss the items into his residence, which he retrieves at his convenience.
Whenever a woman approaches his vicinity, he hastens back into his abode, promptly locking himself inside. Reports suggest that the elderly man is afflicted by a psychological condition known as Gynophobia, an irrational dread of women. Not formally recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Gynophobia is typically classified as a “specific phobia” within clinical contexts.
The symptoms of Gynophobia manifest as an irrational, all-consuming fear of women, often inducing intense anxiety merely at the thought of them. Physical reactions may include panic attacks, chest tightness, profuse sweating, rapid heart palpitations, and difficulty breathing.
