Holding the door shouldn’t be gender-based – Writer, Chimamanda Adichie stirs up another controversy
By Patricia Uyeh
‘Americannah’ writer, Chimamanda Adichie is making headlines for another controversial statement she made as a guest on the Trevor Noah’s show yesterday. The award-winning writer had shared her views on chivalry, which she said showed gender-bias.
” I think gestures like holding the door shouldn’t be gender-based. I think it’s a lovely thing to hold the door but we should hold the door for everyone.
“Like, I hold the door for men and for women. And so I think the idea of someone holding the door for a woman because she’s a woman… I have trouble with it
“I’m quite happy for people to hold the door for me. But I’m like, hope they’re not doing it because of this sort of idea of chivalry.
“Because chivalry is really about the idea that women are somehow weak and need protecting. But we know that really, there are many women who are stronger than men.”
On women labelled as weak and therefore given preferential treatment in crisis situations, the writer said:
“So really, what I think is that the people we should protect are people who need protecting, whether men or women.
“Which is also why I sort of have trouble with the idea of women and children. When women are classified in the same… I mean, when there’s a tragedy and we say, women and children should leave first.
“I think, actually, it’s the people who are weak, unwell, young… who should leave first.”
photo credit: Instagram@chimamanda _adichie
