Why I’ve Never Been A Strong Advocate For Marriage – Uzor Arukwe

Kehinde Adeleye

Nollywood actor Uzor Arukwe has questioned the expectations surrounding marriage, saying women often bear more responsibilities and challenges than men in the institution.

The actor shared his views during an interview on the In My Opinion podcast, where he discussed societal pressure on women to marry and the expectations associated with starting a family.

Arukwe said he had never been a strong advocate for marriage because of what he considers the unequal responsibilities placed on women, including pregnancy, childbirth and taking their husbands’ surnames.

“I’ve never really been an advocate for marriage because I feel like it is more tasking for the woman. She’s the one who bears the children, takes the man’s last name, and has to deal with a lot of things,” he said.

The actor argued that society was gradually recognising that a woman’s identity and worth should not be determined by whether she is married.

He also reflected on the pressure women traditionally face to marry by a certain age, noting that unmarried women were often questioned about their relationship status as they approached their late 20s and early 30s.

“Growing up, people would ask you why you weren’t married at 25 or 30 and talk about how they already had five children by that age,” Arukwe said.

According to him, societal attitudes towards marriage and motherhood are changing, with some women choosing not to have children.

“Now, there are even women who don’t want to have children. I’ve met at least two or three,” he added.

His comments have brought renewed attention to conversations about marriage, gender roles and the pressure women face to conform to traditional expectations about relationships and family life.