Nollywood actress Etinosa Idemudia has challenged societal norms by stating that marriage and motherhood should not be seen as the ultimate achievements for women. In a recent interview, she argued that a woman's worth should not be tied to her relationship status or whether she has children. "Marriage is not an achievement, having children is not an achievement," she asserted. Instead, she emphasized self-respect and personal growth as more meaningful indicators of a fulfilled life.
Etinosa shared that divine grace, not just hard work, is what separates successful actors from others in Nollywood. "The difference between successful actors and not successful actors. I feel like it's grace. Hard work is part of it, but I can never say hard work is all of it," she said. She also spoke about her aspirations for her daughter, stressing that the core lesson she wants to pass on is self-worth. "If I don't teach my daughter anything, I will teach her how to respect herself, how to value herself."
The actress criticized double standards in society, particularly the way women are labelled for their choices while men face no such judgment. "If they've never called you Ashawo in this life as a woman, it means you're not successful," she remarked, pointing out the hypocrisy in how women are stigmatized even when men engage in similar behaviour. She urged women to stop comparing themselves to others and instead draw inspiration from those who are thriving, while staying grounded in their own identity.
Etinosa Idemudia claims marriage and children are not achievements, yet positions self-worth as the standard by which women should be judged—creating a new benchmark while rejecting old ones. She argues society unfairly labels women as "Ashawo" while ignoring men who use relationships for gain, but offers no solution beyond individual resilience. Her call for women to value themselves more comes alongside a spiritual explanation for success—divine grace—blending personal empowerment with faith. The contradiction lies in rejecting societal judgment while defining success through equally intangible ideals.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
