Former Big Brother Naija reality star and actor, Elozonam Ogbolu, has sparked conversation by challenging toxic masculinity and common misconceptions about what makes a man masculine.
Speaking on a recent episode of the "In The Company Of Men" podcast hosted by Ikhane Akhigbe, Elozonam addressed several activities often stigmatized as "unmanly" in Nigerian society, including performing oral sex on women, cooking, and shopping for groceries.
"When it comes to certain things, especially things that men are not accustomed to doing, I think it screams toxic masculinity. Some guys think that giving a woman head isn't masculine. It's that weird," Elozonam stated during the interview.
He further elaborated, "Serving a woman, doing things for a woman, going to buy the groceries, to a lot of very staunch toxic males in Nigeria, these things don't constitute as you being a man."
Challenging Traditional Gender Roles
The reality TV star questioned why men feel uncomfortable performing certain tasks traditionally associated with women, such as purchasing sanitary products for their partners or cooking meals.
"For instance, if your wife asks you to please buy her a sanitary pad, those men will question it. They will say it makes them feel uncomfortable," he noted. "Why can't you buy your mum or your woman a sanitary pad? Why can't you go down on your woman? Why can't you cook for her?"
Elozonam emphasized that performing these actions does not diminish one's masculinity, contrary to common beliefs in some Nigerian circles.
Women's Role in Perpetuating Toxic Masculinity
Interestingly, Elozonam also highlighted how some women contribute to toxic masculinity by romanticizing harmful behaviors in relationships.
"Toxic masculinity is still fueled by the opposite gender. You can be a toxic male who has grown up with a toxic father, who has learned all these traits, and you go out into the world with your toxicity... And you meet women who, that is their fantasy, they can't be with you if you are not toxic," he explained.
He expressed concern about disturbing trends he's observed on social media, saying, "Some girls even say they can't be with a man that doesn't beat them. I have seen things on social media like, 'The man doesn't love you if he doesn't beat you.' How? Like, why?"
Elozonam's comments have generated significant discussion online about gender roles and expectations in Nigerian relationships.
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