Chimamanda Says She Feels Sorry Men Can’t Experience Motherhood
Award-winning novelist and feminist icon, Chimamanda Adichie says she feels sorry for men because they can’t experience the benefits that come with being a mother.
In an interview with Vulture, Adichie opened up about what having a child meant to her and the impact it had on her art.
“I used to think I wouldn’t be a good mother because I was so dedicated to my art,” the ‘Americanah’ writer said.
“I said to myself, I have nephews and nieces who I adore, and I helped raise them, so those will be my children. That’s what I thought for a long time, because I felt that I couldn’t be true to both my art and my child.
“Getting older. I like to joke and say that you’re ready [to have a child] when your body isn’t ready, and when your body is ready, you’re not mentally ready.
“I guess you have the best eggs when you’re, like, 22, but at 22 you don’t even know yourself.
“Then when you’re 38 and know yourself, your eggs are not the best quality. Anyway, we’ll talk about eggs another time.”
Adichie explained that having a child interrupts her writing to an extent but also opens up a new range of emotions that can inspire art which men can’t experience.
“But my baby happened, and it’s important to talk honestly about this, because having her changed a lot,” she said.
“Having a child gets in the way of writing. It does. You can’t own your time the way you used to.
“But the other thing that motherhood does — and I kind of feel sorry for men that they can’t have this — is open up a new emotional plane that can feed your art.”
More Stories
BREAKING: BLACK SATURDAY IN AGEGE AS TRAILER FALLS FROM BRIDGE (VIDEO)
By: Motunrayo Aniwura A tragic incident occurred today at the Agege Bridge, Lagos, as a trailer fell from the...
LAGOS TASKFORCE APPREHENDS 52 SUSPECTS DURING ISLAND CLEAN-UP OPERATION
The Lagos State Environmental Taskforce has arrested 52 suspects during a late-night clean-up operation targeting criminal elements on Lagos...
FORMER BENUE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, IJIGAH, LAID TO REST
The remains of former Ogbadibo Local Government Chairman, Hon. Ijigah Okoh, have been buried in his hometown, Mission Ekere,...
LAGOS CREATES 3,941 NEW PARKING SLOTS TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION
The Lagos State Government has announced the creation of 3,941 new parking slots across key locations as part of its...
CRIME: FBI ARRESTS 22 NIGERIANS OVER ALLEGED SEXTORTION SCAMS
In a sweeping international operation targeting a surge in online sexual extortion scams, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has...
LAGOS MINISTRY EMPOWERS 2,680 BUSINESS OWNERS WITH CASH GRANTS
2,680 Business owners have benefitted from the NG-CARES (Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus) under the Lagos State Ministry...