Nollywood actress Rita Dominic recently addressed the societal pressure surrounding marriage, particularly for women in the public eye.
During her appearance at the Women of Valour International Women’s Day event in Accra, Ghana, Dominic openly discussed the challenges she faced as a successful, unmarried woman. She shed light on the constant inquiries and negativity surrounding her decision to prioritise finding the right partner before settling down.
“My story about finding love and ultimately marrying a man I love at an age that most Africans consider old was vigorously discussed, to my amusement, on social media pages,” she said.
Rita Dominic emphasised the constant pressure she faced. People frequently questioned her decision to remain unmarried, often using her age as a reason for concern.
“On one hand, it was heartening to witness the overwhelming support, love and excitement from women across Africa and it was beautiful. And even as we celebrated, glimpses of resistance emerged from certain quarters, notably from self-appointed gatekeepers of African culture,” she said.
Rita Dominic firmly believes that judging individuals solely based on their adherence to outdated societal expectations is unfair and unwarranted. This statement emphasises her stance against the pressure placed on women. This is particularly important for those in the public eye to conform to traditional timelines for marriage and family life.
“Why let yourself be ruled by decisions made by people who made them to suit their own selfish interests at the time, who are long gone? For years I was hounded with ‘When are you going to marry?’ ‘You are old,’ and I would brush it off,” she said.
Dominic got married to her entrepreneur husband, Fidelis Anosike, in 2022.
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