Nollywood actress and filmmaker Mary Remmy Njoku has raised a question about what she sees as a double standard in how society judges men and women who benefit from the wealth of successful people.
She brought up the issue in a media post using the example of a wealthy man named Emeka. According to her after becoming successful Emeka returned home. Had 17 grown men always around him.
These men she said, ate his food wore clothes he bought had their bills paid and lived off his money. All while calling themselves his “boys.”
Njoku wondered why the same behavior is treated differently when women are involved.
“If benefiting from a person’s generosity makes a woman a gold digger ” she asked, “then what do we call the 17 men eating his food wearing what he bought living off his money and calling themselves his boys?”
She pointed out that when men benefit from being close to wealth they are often described with words like “brotherhood,” “networking,” and “loyalty.”. Women in similar situations are frequently labeled negatively.
Njoku said the problem isn’t about people wanting money or better opportunities. It’s about how society applies rules when judging men and women.
She added that both men and women. Whether friends, relatives or employees. Can gain advantages from relationships, with powerful individuals. The key she says, is not the benefit itself. The way those benefits are seen depending on gender.
