Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has spoken about the immense pressure women face around fertility, calling it an unfair burden placed on them by society.

Adichie made this revelation during the first-ever live edition of the WithChude podcast, where she opened up about her personal journey to motherhood and the decision to speak publicly about having her twin boys through a surrogate.

“For the first time ever, Chimamanda tells me exclusively why she spoke up about having her twin boys through a surrogate,” the host, Chude Jideonwo, shared.

Adichie explained, “I felt that there were many women who would then be pressured by people saying ‘look Chimamanda is 47 and she had kids at that age, what about you?’”

She added that societal expectations around fertility often lead to a deep sense of shame among women.
“There is so much shame around issues of fertility, that I just think it’s too much of a burden for women. Women are ashamed when they have fibroids, women are ashamed when they have issues getting pregnant, and I don’t believe in that sort of shame,” Adichie said.

Speaking about her twins, the Half of a Yellow Sun author remarks that one cannot hide the existence of two perfect human beings. This still sits unwell for those who had always believed that she is a feminist, one who does not care about nursing children, as revealed in the comments section.

Adichie, known for her advocacy on gender equality, stressed the need to challenge the culture of shame and give women the freedom to make choices without judgment or pressure.