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By Sunny Green Itodo | Published on March 3, 2024
In a recent interview with actor Efa Iwara, renowned Nollywood actress Beverly Naya expressed her desire to witness a positive shift in the emotional landscape of Nigerian men, urging them to embrace vulnerability without fear of societal judgment.
Naya, known for her roles in various Nollywood productions, highlighted a cultural conditioning that tends to dissuade Nigerian men from displaying emotional vulnerability, associating it with weakness. She shared her wish for men to be more attuned to their emotions, a trait often celebrated in women.
“I wished men were more in touch with their emotions like women are. And vulnerable, women appreciate that so much,” Naya emphasized during the interview. She further noted a unique aspect of emotional vulnerability, stating, “One thing I have noticed is that when a man is able to be vulnerable with a woman and can’t explain how and when it happened, he’s in love with that woman. It’s done [laughs].”
The actress expressed her desire for a cultural shift where men can be more open and vulnerable without facing judgment or embarrassment. According to Naya, societal norms often condition Nigerian men to perceive vulnerability as a sign of weakness, a perspective she disagrees with.
“I feel like men, essentially Nigerian men are conditioned to believe that vulnerability is a sign of weakness. And I don’t agree with that,” she remarked, urging a change in this perspective.
Naya concluded by stating her hope for men to embrace their vulnerable and sensitive sides, emphasizing the positive impact it could have on relationships and societal perceptions.
As Nollywood continues to shape and reflect societal narratives, Beverly Naya’s call for emotional vulnerability in Nigerian men adds a thought-provoking dimension to the ongoing conversations surrounding gender norms and expectations.
