Renowned author Chimamanda Adichie has reaffirmed her commitment to raising her sons with values that promote gender equality and respect for women.
In a conversation with BBC’s Emma Barnett, Adichie spoke about toxic masculinity and the role parents play in shaping the next generation.
“I’m determined to raise good men. I’m thinking about how to make them never feel entitled to women’s bodies,” she stated.
She also pointed out the need for boys to have positive male role models, noting that while young girls today have inspiring female figures to look up to, boys often lack the same.
“In general, little girls now have women in public life they can admire. But I don’t think boys have that in the same way. That space is instead occupied by noxious characters and ideas. I wish the good men would stand up,” she said.
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Adichie, known for her advocacy on gender equality through works like We Should All Be Feminists, believes that masculinity can evolve in a way that aligns with fairness and respect.
“Culture doesn’t make us, we make culture. We can remake masculinity in a way that is compatible with equality. It can be done,” she said.
Reflecting on her personal journey, she shared how motherhood impacted her creativity, admitting that pregnancy momentarily disrupted her writing process.
“I don’t like to use the expression ‘writer’s block’ because I’m superstitious, but it happened when I became pregnant. Something changed, and I don’t think it was just physiological,” she revealed.
Adichie’s latest novel, Dream Count, marks her return to fiction after more than a decade. The book explores women’s lives and experiences, tackling themes such as gender, race, and health with what she describes as “radical honesty.”
