Why Nigerian men see women as less than human – Kate Henshaw

Veteran Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw has spoken out passionately against the systemic discrimination and dehumanisation of women in Nigeria, calling for a reevaluation of cultural, religious, and legal norms that continue to marginalize women.

In an interview aired on Arise News Channel on Saturday, Henshaw criticized how societal and institutional structures in Nigeria have been weaponized to oppress women, despite clear teachings in religious texts about equality between men and women.

She specifically pointed out that Biblical messages of equality have been misinterpreted and twisted by men and religious institutions to uphold patriarchal dominance, rather than promote fairness and mutual respect.

Henshaw also expressed frustration over legal and societal systems that, in her view, continue to fail Nigerian women, leaving them vulnerable to abuse, discrimination, and marginalization across many sectors of society.

“God created man and woman. He created the man first, no doubt,” Henshaw said. “Even pastors and churches are at fault for this. He (God) brought the woman from the side, not from the head to be over the man, or from under to be beneath him, but beside, to reign beside him, to be fruitful, multiply and bring up children and grow together.”

However, she argued that this ideal of partnership has been warped. “Nigerian men see women as less than human,” she said. “That is why when you leave these shores and go somewhere else, they show you people pepper.”

The award-winning actress highlighted structural discrimination embedded within Nigeria’s legal framework. She pointed to sections of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, which, she claimed, legitimises gender-based violence. “Even our laws… favour the man,” Henshaw said. “A man is reasonably allowed to chastise his wife. Why?”

She also criticised the gender disparity in citizenship laws, noting that while Nigerian men can easily obtain citizenship or passports for their foreign wives, Nigerian women married to foreigners face far more bureaucratic hurdles.

“A man who marries a foreigner can get a passport for her,” she said. “But a woman who marries a foreigner would go through loops before she can give the same passport to her husband, who is a foreigner in this same Nigeria. So what are we talking about?” Kate Henshaw queried.