By Renowned author and feminist icon Chimamanda Adichie has declared her commitment to raising her sons with strong values of gender equality and respect for women.
In an interview with BBC’s Emma Barnett, published on YouTube, Adichie spoke about the dangers of toxic masculinity and the crucial role parents play in shaping how boys view women and gender roles.
“I’m determined to raise good men. I’m thinking about how to make them never feel entitled to women’s bodies,” Adichie said, making her stance clear.
She also expressed concern that while young girls now have powerful women to look up to, boys lack equally positive male role models. Instead, many boys are exposed to harmful, toxic ideas about masculinity.
Adichie urged “good men” to step forward and be visible, adding, “Culture doesn’t make us, we make culture. We can remake masculinity in a way that is compatible with equality.”
Reflecting on her personal journey, Adichie shared that becoming a mother deeply impacted her writing process, even causing her creative struggles during pregnancy. “I don’t like to call it writer’s block, but something definitely shifted,” she admitted.
Her latest novel, Dream Count, marks her return to fiction after more than a decade, and much of her reflection on gender, culture, and motherhood has shaped the new work.
