Marriage Doesn’t Favour Women — Yvonne Jegede

Actress Yvonne Jegede talks marriage in interview with Punch

Your marriage and its subsequent crash were quite public. What lessons did you take from that experience?

One major lesson is that you don’t have to let people into your personal life. You don’t owe anyone explanations, especially when your life is already in the public eye. I have learnt that over-explaining can sometimes reduce your value. Not everything needs to be addressed or clarified publicly.

Now, I focus on living my life on my own terms. People will always have opinions, but you don’t have to engage with all of them.

You once said you contributed more financially in your marriage. Do you think financial imbalance affects relationships?

Providing for a family shouldn’t be about ego or competition. If both partners are responsible for the children, then both should contribute in whatever way they can.

For me, I don’t believe in rigid gender roles when it comes to providing. Whoever earns more should be willing to support the other person. That’s what partnership is about.

I don’t have a problem making more money. The focus should be on the well-being of the family, not on who earns more.

You’ve described marriage as “overrated” and linked it to pressure and intolerance. Was that shaped more by personal experience or observation?

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—marriage is overrated. For people who have found happiness in marriage, I’m genuinely happy for them. But from my perspective and within my environment, marriage doesn’t always favour women.

There are exceptions, of course, but from what I’ve seen and experienced, many women carry a lot of pressure and expectations that are not always balanced.

How has raising your son as a single mother influenced your career decisions?

I’m fortunate to have a strong support system. My parents live with me, so I’m not raising my son alone in the strict sense. I made a conscious decision to have my family close, so they can help me balance motherhood and work.

I don’t have someone providing for me, so I have to take responsibility for myself and my child. That has influenced the kind of decisions I make, especially when it comes to work and stability. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s something I’ve embraced, and I don’t regret it.

Source: Punch

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