There’s no such thing as an ‘independent woman’ – Mary Njoku

By Tolulope Oke

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Mary Njoku has stirred debate with her bold claim that true independence in women doesn’t exist.

In a recent post on her Instagram page, Njoku argued that what people often call a woman’s independence is less a personal choice and more a response to the absence of dependable support.

“There is really no such thing as an ‘independent woman’. Independence is not a preference; it is usually a response. No human truly wants to do life alone. We become independent when we do not have dependable people around us,” she wrote.

Njoku stressed that traits often perceived as “overly self-sufficient” are usually learned out of necessity. She challenged people to reflect on their own reliability before labeling someone as independent.

“So before labeling a woman as ‘independent’ or ‘overly self-sufficient’, it is worth asking why. Are you dependable? Because when someone shows up consistently, nobody chooses isolation,” she added.

The actress concluded by emphasizing that strength is often a survival tool, not a personal preference. “Independence is learned in the absence of reliability. She is strong because she has to be. Be dependable, and watch her strength soften into trust,” Njoku wrote