Veteran Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw has taken a bold stand against what she describes as the deeply ingrained patriarchal mindset that continues to shape the attitudes and systems in Nigerian society.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Henshaw criticised the persistent gender inequality that, in her view, is reinforced by cultural norms, religious interpretations, and systemic legal biases that diminish the value of women.
“God created man and woman. He created the man first, no doubt, but He brought the woman from the side—not from the head to rule over him, nor from beneath to be trampled on, but from the side to reign beside him,” she said.
The actress lamented how Nigerian society has warped this foundational principle, arguing that many men now see women as less than human — a perception that, according to her, becomes even more evident when Nigerians interact with more egalitarian societies abroad.
She also took aim at legal double standards that favor men:
“Even our laws—the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act—favor men. A man is reasonably allowed to chastise his wife. Why?”
Highlighting further inequality, Henshaw noted:
“A man who marries a foreigner can get a Nigerian passport for her. But a woman who marries a foreigner has to jump through hoops to get the same for her husband. So what are we talking about?”
Her remarks have sparked widespread conversation online, with many praising her courage for speaking out against systemic injustices faced by women in Nigeria.
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