Veteran Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw has passionately and strongly criticised the entrenched deep patriarchal mindset that persists among many Nigerian men, highlighting how this mindset conditions them to view women as inferior beings in various facets of life.
During an insightful interview on Arise TV, Henshaw openly expressed her grave concerns about the ongoing gender inequality that is deeply embedded within Nigerian society. She pointed out that this inequality is not only reflected in widespread social attitudes but also ingrained within the existing legal framework, which often fails to protect women's rights adequately.
The actress further elaborated on how religious interpretations and longstanding cultural norms have significantly contributed to the systemic mistreatment and undervaluation of women in Nigeria. She emphasized that these factors have been misused to justify and perpetuate inequality rather than promote the true essence of respect and equality.
She passionately argued that the original intention behind equality has been severely distorted by prevailing patriarchal ideologies, which unfairly portray women as lesser beings, unworthy of equal treatment or respect in both private and public spheres.
In her own powerful words, she said:
‘’God created man and woman, He created the man first, no doubt, but He brought the woman from the side—not from the top to rule over the man, nor from beneath to be subservient to him but beside him, to reign alongside, to be fruitful, to multiply, to raise children, and to grow together as equals. Yet, Nigerian men continue to see women as less than human. That is why when you leave Nigeria’s shores and go somewhere else, you realize how differently women are respected and treated—you see us as valuable and worthy, but back home, you are treated like mere wood…
“Even our laws reflect this bias. The violence against persons prohibition laws, for instance, disproportionately favor men. A man is reasonably allowed to chastise his wife—why is that accepted?
“Furthermore, when a man marries a foreigner, he can easily secure a passport for his wife, but a woman who marries a foreigner must go through numerous bureaucratic loops just to get the same passport for her husband here in Nigeria. So, what exactly are we talking about?”
Watch the video below to hear more from Kate Henshaw about this critical issue …