There’s No Such Thing as an ‘Independent Woman’ — Mary Njoku Sparks Debate

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Mary Njoku has stirred widespread debate on social media after asserting that the concept of an “independent woman” is largely a misconception.

In a post shared on her Instagram page, Njoku argued that what is often described as female independence is not a personal preference but a reaction to the absence of reliable support systems. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

According to her, no human being truly desires to live life alone, stressing that independence usually develops when people are forced to rely solely on themselves.

“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.

The actress further explained that qualities often described as excessive self-sufficiency are usually acquired out of necessity rather than choice.

She challenged people to examine their own reliability before labeling women as independent or overly strong, suggesting that consistency and support naturally reduce the need for emotional isolation.

“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,” Njoku added.

Concluding her message, Njoku emphasised that strength is often a survival mechanism rather than a personal identity.

She noted that when reliability is present, what appears as toughness often softens into trust and emotional openness.

“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,” she stated.

The post has since generated mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians praising her perspective as honest and thought-provoking, while others disagreed with her interpretation of independence.