Award-winning novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has said the #MeToo movement may have given women’s right a boost, yet it has not settled the issues surrounding gender inequality.
Adichie disclosed this on the sidelines of an event that brings together notable thinkers to debate solutions to issues like social inequality in Santiago, Chile.
She lamented the campaign only gave women a voice. It did not end society still perceiving domestic work as women’s primary duty in the world.
#MeToo Campaign as a global campaign against sexual harassment and gender inequality, first came into public domain in 2006 through Tarana Burke, a sexual harassment survivor.
The movement consequently attracted international attention, becoming a major movement for tackling deeply ingrained cultural and religious issues relating to gender, particularly women.
While Adichie, also a #MeToo advocate, believes that although the movement has largely given women a voice; it feels like “it’s two steps forward” and “one step backward”, she said.
“This is because women’s sole responsibility is still largely domestic chores. In addition, many children are still being groomed with “ingrained gender roles.”
“Because of that, women are now doubly bearing the burdens of domestic work at home and work outside the home. And so what can seem like equality really isn’t. In the future, we have to address that. Otherwise, it will take women back even more.”
Adichie, widely known for her literary prowess and voice of issues bordering on gender; has authored several award-winning projects including ‘Americanah’, ‘Purple Hibiscus’ and ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’.
