Nigerian actress Kate Henshaw has voiced strong opinions on gender inequality in Nigeria, stating that many Nigerian men view women as lesser beings. She also criticized the country’s laws, saying they are designed to favor men over women.
Speaking on Arise TV, the mother of one reflected on the biblical creation story, explaining that while the Bible says woman was created from the side of man, this was meant to symbolize equality and partnership—not subordination or superiority.
“God created man and woman, He created the man first, no doubt, but he brought the woman from the side, not from the head over the man or from under to be beneath him but beside, to reign beside him, to be fruitful, multiply and bring up children and grow together,” Henshaw said.
She argued that the patriarchal mindset of Nigerian men has twisted this understanding, leading to women being seen and treated as less than human. She pointed out that this attitude is reflected in Nigerian laws.
“Even our laws, the violence against persons prohibition laws favors the man… A man is reasonably allowed to chastise his wife. Why?” she questioned.
Henshaw also highlighted the inequality in citizenship laws, noting that a man who marries a foreigner can easily obtain a passport for his wife, but a woman who marries a foreigner faces many hurdles to secure the same for her husband.
“So what are we talking about?” she asked, calling attention to the systemic gender biases embedded in Nigerian society and law.
Her comments have sparked conversations about the need for legal reforms and cultural shifts to promote gender equality in Nigeria.
