Gladness Gideon
Award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has opened up about her decision to welcome twin sons via surrogacy, addressing the public response and societal pressures surrounding non-traditional paths to motherhood.
During a candid conversation on the #WithChude Live talk hosted by media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, Adichie expressed her disappointment over the politicization of her personal choice and the online reactions that followed.
Adichie, who chose to be transparent about her surrogacy journey, emphasized that her decision was motivated by a desire to counter harmful narratives that could influence other women facing similar circumstances. She explained that when people noticed she had twin sons at the age of 47, the public began to speculate and make assumptions.
“There are certain things you cannot hide, you cannot hide the existence of two perfect human beings. People just went off with this thing, ‘She’s 47, she’s had babies,’ and I don’t like to lie about things that can be consequential for other people,” she stated.
The author further discussed how societal pressures surrounding motherhood can impact women. She recounted an encounter where a viewer complimented her on her appearance after giving birth, and Adichie was quick to correct the assumption.
“I’m not going to say, ‘Oh, thank you,’ because that’s a lie,” she shared. “I said, ‘Well, they were born by a surrogate.’ And apparently, I hear that there was a bit of noise about that.”
Despite the backlash, Adichie expressed no regrets about being open about her surrogacy, highlighting the importance of truth in combating societal expectations.
In her remarks, Adichie also shed light on the pervasive shame surrounding fertility challenges, noting that many women feel the weight of stigma when dealing with issues like fibroids or infertility.
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“I think there is so much shame around issues of fertility, that I just think it’s too much of a burden for women,” she said, challenging the culture of silence and shame that surrounds reproductive health.
Addressing critics who deem surrogacy as dehumanizing, Adichie argued that while it can be, it is ultimately the ethics and context that matter.
“They think that you cannot rent a woman’s body, they argue that it’s dehumanizing. I think it can be, but I think it matters how it’s done. It can be done ethically,” she noted, adding that there is a contradiction in the arguments of those who champion a woman’s right to make decisions about her body but criticize surrogacy.
Despite the controversy, Adichie emphasized the joy that her children have brought her, stating, “My boys are so precious to me, and I hated that anything about them would become politicized. I have zero regrets.”
She expressed hope that her openness would inspire other women to embrace motherhood through non-traditional means without fear of judgment.
Lastly, the renowned author reiterated her commitment to raising her children with a strong foundation of gender equality and respect for women, aiming to provide them with values that challenge societal norms.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s powerful stance on surrogacy and fertility challenges underscores her ongoing advocacy for women’s rights and the breaking down of societal barriers that restrict choice and personal freedom.