Media Personality, Kelechi Ikpe Clears The Air About Her Comment On Gender Roles That Got Twitter Users Outraged
Media personality, Kelechi Ikpe has taken to her Instagram page to shed more light on her opinion that has generated massive outrage on Twitter, with many calling for her head.
In a video that has gone viral, Ikpe had tried to explain why she believes depression is on the rise. She opined that a lot of men are depressed because a lot of women are taking up leadership roles.
On that particular show, four women: Lolo Cynthia, Kelechi Ikpe, Rafieka Williams, and Wathoni Anyansi sat down in a discussion centred on “The rise in depression in our society in the 21st century.”
While speaking on the subject, Ikpe gave her opinion which many twitter users have called ‘senseless.’
To defend her stance, the social worker shared a clip of the video while also explaining what she meant in clearer terms.
She wrote:
“This video has gone viral for the wrong reasons. It has also been edited by blogs to exclude key parts but that’s fine, social media isn’t friendly. Now let me explain.
The switch in Gender Roles can become confusing and overwhelming for both Genders. and when the man who has been programmed to be the provider is unable to, there is risk of exhibiting certain behaviour that may be harmful to himself or others.
In a bid to meet up, a person can venture into crime or fall into depression after countless dissappointments and confusion. It’s worse for men because they have been programmed to provide. So when this role is taken up by a woman,it’s tough. This even happens at the work place.
Some men hate working with a female boss,because they can’t stand the idea of a woman telling them what to do or going home with the bigger pay cheque. It isn’t what they are used to and if they can’t better their situation, it weighs hard on them.Let me break it down.
What do you think happens when a boy is told a girl scored higher or did better than he did at school or at a game…he starts to cry or at least feels very bad. This isnt because someone did better than he did,he is crying because that person is a girl. These are the kind of thinking such people grow up with.In the same vein, Research has proven that more powerful women than men are prone to depression because of societal expectations to fail and not to fail and the confusion of what leadership or communication style to adopt. Should she be assertive or mellow,how does she command respect,how does she ensure people don’t perceive her as a weak leader. How does she continue to be an example of success and how does she do this and not lose her ”femininity”.. This wasn’t a problem when society did not expect this of her. The woman’s role was to be wife and mother, she had no business in the board room or providing for the family, but now, things are changing.
My theory is that a shift in Culturally defined Gender Roles is a factor of depression. The solution is to teach our children that success is not Gender selective at all and to prepare them for it practically.”
READ ALSO: Full-Time Housewife Vs Career Woman: Celebrity Photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi Airs His Opinion
See some twitter users reaction below:
Following people’s reaction, co-talker on the show, TV Show host, Lolo Cynthia also took to her Instagram page to help clarify her colleagues’ stance.
She wrote:
“This part of the video where @kelechitalks gives her. Opinion have led to huge outrage on twitter. –
Let me say this, I believe we are quick to jump on anything that remotely discusses gender because of the clime we at – that being said, I am not innocent because the heading was click bait; for this I take full responsibility. –
However this was an interesting point and we were corrected that depression might not be the best word to describe it.. –In this society we live in, we can be honest and realistic that there are a lot of changes happening especially with women. The last century have led to lots of breakthroughs FOr women and also brought up conversation around the roles we had once taken up. –
I believe that many of us have our identities attached to these roles and with this shift, it can be overwhelming to find where you belong in the ever changing world. –
My co-host made sure to highlight that both genders were struggling with this shift as women have also had to step up into certain roles that they didn’t have to engage in before. –
It will do us no good to continue to give into the outrage! We can’t fight for change and not be willing to discuss how these changes are affecting the dynamic of day to day activities and our views on identity and life in general. -“
Hopefully, these explanations would calm some nerves.