Popular Nigerian Author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has revealed that she did not originally set out to be an advocate for feminism.
While speaking at the Women in Management, Business & Public service(WIMBIZ) Conference on Friday, November 4, the writer said that feminism was never in her plans. She explained that seeing how women were oppressed in society influenced her advocacy.
Chimamanda described the pressure society imposes on women who marry late, don’t have children, or leave an abusive marriage.
According to her, judgment from society chokes the greatness that women carry. She urged women to support each other genuinely.
In her words;
“I did not set out to be a feminist icon, but I cannot stand the way women are being abused in the society and I feel like I have a platform that can make a difference, no matter how little.
A woman gathers the courage to leave an abusive marriage, and instead of being comforted and cared for, she’s being oppressed and insulted, even by fellow women. We need to change the narrative.
People don’t need to like you for the stand you take, all that matters is that you can sleep well at night, knowing that you have done and have said the right thing.”
If you’re so judged and oppressed as a woman, you can’t conquer the world and be the best you can be”
