Mary Remny Njoku has narrated an encounter with a man who insisted to her that women do not face the pressure of having to provide for dependents.
The actress and businesswoman took to Instagram to write: ‘A few yers ago, l was talking to a colleague I’d hired for a project.
‘He was telling me about the pressure of having to provide make money, build a business, and carry the burden of people depending on you.
‘I told him, “I understand.”
‘He said, “No, you don’t. You can’t
possibly understand. You’re a woman. Women don’t understand that kind of
pressure.
‘I smiled and said , “Of course. How can I?”
“l simply signed his cheque, handed it
to him. and wished him well.
‘Didn’t argue.’
She added in the caption: ‘Reality doesn’t need defending. Sometimes, your life speaks louder than your words.
‘For generations, countless African women have carried the weight of entire families long before they ever had husbands or children.
‘They helped raise siblings, paid school fees, supported parents, cared for relatives, and carried responsibilities that were never meant for one person alone. Some are still doing it today, even after getting married and starting families of their own.
‘Yet, they rarely get credit for it.
‘Sometimes, their sacrifices are overlooked. Sometimes, their achievements are credited to the nearest man in the room. Sometimes, they’re expected to carry the load so quietly that people forget they were carrying it at all.
‘Society has long celebrated men as providers, while treating many women’s contributions as expected, invisible, or secondary.
‘To every woman out there who is providing, building, leading, nurturing, sacrificing, succeeding at work, and still holding her home together…
‘Take your flowers.
‘You’ve been carrying far more than most people will ever acknowledge. Your work matters. Your sacrifices count. Your success is yours. And you don’t need anyone’s permission to own it.’
