Nigerian feminism lacks equality- Author Sefu Atta

Nigerian-American author, Sefi Atta, says Nigerian feminism is self-serving and lack equality.

The award winning author stated this in a chat with TV host, Chude Jideonwo.

According to Atta, her type of feminism is one that is less elitist and classist and more inclusive of non-binary and people of other walks.

She said “I heard about feminists coming out in favour of women in government who had been repositioned or lost their positions because they were found to be incompetent or because they were under investigation.

“I thought, ‘why should feminists give us women a right to be just as incompetent or corrupt as men?’ I’m looking for feminism that is first of all less elitist and classist and more inclusive of non-binary and people of other walks.

“I’m not interested in self-serving feminism that’s there to perpetuate the wealth gang and to want as much as men who do. Where is the equality in that?  It seems to be very similar to why white feminism started.

“[It focused] on their own concerns, wealthy women or middle-class women concerns you know is at the forefront of everything. If you ever had a house girl and she had to come through the back door, isn’t she a woman?”

Atta added “I’m a feminist but I’m looking for a movement that reflects my views. The majority of the women of this society are not part of the 1% or middle class. Let’s see someone speak for them. Let them speak up for themselves.

“They are intelligent and quite capable of doing that. Let’s include them, let’s include non-binary people if that’s the correct term. White feminism had a hard time accepting black feminists. Why do we replicate that here?

“Until I see a group or community that understands my way of thinking, I’ll just be observing for now.”