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Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question - Literature - Nairaland

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Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by GodOfAction: 10:51pm On Apr 24, 2018
Popular Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has now reacted to being slammed by Nigerians over a question she asked American politician, Hillary Clinton.

The feminist had during a PEN World Voices Festival told Hillary Clinton that she is upset that her Twitter bio starts with ‘wife’ .

Adichie to Hillary; “In your Twitter account, the first word that describes you is ‘Wife.’ And then I think its ‘Mom,’ and then it’s ‘Grandmother.”

“And when I saw that, I have to confess that I felt just a little bit upset.

And then I went and I looked at your husband’s Twitter account, and the first word was not ‘husband,” Adichie said.

She was curious as to why with all of Clinton’s career accomplishments; did her Twitter bio primarily identify her as a “Wife”.

Bill Clinton’s Twitter bio leads with, ‘Founder, Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United States’.

Adichie said she wanted to know if it was Clinton’s choice to first identify in relation to her husband, and if so, why?

“When you put it like that, I’m going to change it,” Clinton said, prompting roars from the crowd.

However, Clinton had pretty good explanation for why ‘Wife’ kicked- off her bio, which is that women should be able to celebrate both their accomplishments and their relationships.

Howbeit this question didn’t go down well with a lot of Nigerians who took to the social media to lampoon the feminist saying she’s being extreme.

Well Chimamanda who’s known to never back down has now responded to her critics via a Facebook post, telling that she is tired of Nigerians who read a headline and, without bothering to get details and context, jump on the outrage bandwagon and form lazy, shallow opinions.

Read below:

“Dear Unnamed Person Who I Am Told Is On Social Media Saying I am Her Family and Telling Me to Shut Up:

Cynicism is ugly. It doesn’t flatter anyone. Yours doesn’t suit you at all.

I remember you vaguely; I think you were in my class in primary school. And now you claim to be my ‘family’ and you are asking me to shut up.

Did you watch the video of the conversation? Did you read a full transcript?

I am tired of Nigerians who read a headline and, without bothering to get details and context, jump on the outrage bandwagon and form lazy, shallow opinions.

I am tired of Nigerians cynically thinking of anybody in public life as a ‘brand.’ No, I am not a brand. I am a person who feels strongly about certain issues. I choose to talk honestly about them. I made the choice to talk about feminism knowing very well the kind of hostility it brings – but I think it’s important and I will continue to speak my truth and hope to bring about some change, no matter how small. Adirom agba egwu ka m data ego.

No, of course you don’t actually deserve a response, but I have some free time today. So I want to make you feel a little important because it sounds like you need it.

And I want to reflect on an absolutely lovely hour spent on stage with Hillary Clinton.

I was happy when I was told that Hillary Clinton had specifically requested to be in conversation with me at the PEN World Voices festival. I am an unapologetic fan of Ms. Clinton’s. I have been for many years.

I felt quite emotional when I met her. Having read and followed her for years, it was moving to see her: the warm, human, observant, present, thoughtful person (and looking wonderful, with her hair and makeup on point!).

She said she had read my books and I restrained myself from doing cartwheels.

“Is there anything you don’t want to talk about?” I asked backstage.

“Ask me anything,” she said.

Towards the end of our conversation, I told her how, having read her writing about her own life, I think she has a great love story with Bill Clinton. A wonderful friendship. I said I feel irritated and protective of her when people dissect her personal life, but I also confessed to having an interest myself, particularly about her public Twitter profile. (I first noticed it when I was researching a piece about her during the presidential campaign). I was upset that the first word used to describe her was ‘wife.’ Was it a choice she had made or was it something done for her campaign and, if it was a choice she had made, did she think my reaction to it was fair?

Her response was very thoughtful.

I was too excited, emotional, slightly nervous, to be on stage with this remarkable woman. Had I kept in mind how easily outrage-mongers would jump on a headline, I would have phrased my question better. I would not have made it about my being upset, because it can come across as navel-gazing.

But the truth is that we were supposed to be having a ‘conversation,’ the context of our conversation was personal and warm, I had made the decision to speak from the heart, and it would be dishonest to pretend that I had not reacted personally to so many issues around Ms. Clinton, whose life has become a kind of crucible of all the questions that affect women.

We all react personally to public figures. And I WAS upset that the Twitter bio of a woman who is the most accomplished person to run for President of the United States, would begin with ‘wife.’ And considering her personal history, it just didn’t seem to fit.

I felt that ‘wife’ was used as an attempt to placate all the men and women who will not vote for a woman unless they are able to see her FIRST in domestic terms.

Yes, it’s just Twitter. But it matters. It’s a public platform. It’s where people go to hear directly from her.

And there is context to consider.

In LIVING HISTORY, Ms.Clinton writes that the two most difficult decisions she has made in her life were staying married to Bill Clinton and running for the senate seat in New York.

Women, especially women in public life, face a lot of societal pressure about how to be, how to live, much more than men do. Women in public life are considered ‘cold’ and ‘un-relatable’ unless they define themselves in domestic terms. Women’s accomplishments are often considered incomplete unless they have also ticked the ‘marriage’ box. These things are not true of men, even though marriage can be a wonderful thing for both men and women.

Feminism is indeed about choice. But it is intellectually lazy to suggest that, since everything is about ‘choice,’ none of these choices can be interrogated. Choices are never made in a vacuum. And sometimes, for women, choices are not always real choices.

After she got married, Ms. Clinton kept her name, but she was so viciously criticized for this that she then took on her husband’s name. Was this a ‘choice?’ Would she have done so if she wasn’t being attacked and if she didn’t want to feel responsible for her husband’s potential losing of votes?

During the last presidential campaign, she was expected to account for the policies of her husband’s administration. She was labeled an enabler of sexual harassment. She was accused of cynically staying married because she wanted to benefit politically.

Much of Ms. Clinton’s public image is a caricature of a person who is untrustworthy, calculated, cold, dishonest. That caricature has its roots in her early public life when she was the First Lady of Arkansas.

Her crime was that she did not conform to the traditional role of First Lady. She had kept her name. She clearly considered herself to be her husband’s equal partner. She did not intend merely to be a Wife. She had her own dreams, her own ambition. She dared to say that she wasn’t planning on ‘staying home and baking cookies,’ which was not about denigrating stay-at-home mothers but simply about saying that that was not what she wanted to do.

A small comment about a small thing, but it was significant and revolutionary because she was consciously resisting the status quo.

But she was attacked for that. Horrendously. And those attacks were repeated so often that they stuck and they contributed to her being reduced to a caricature.

It was therefore upsetting to see her first descriptor as ‘wife.’ The question isn’t about including ‘wife’ in her Twitter bio. The question is about giving ‘wife’ a certain primacy as the first word that describes her, and it speaks to larger questions about the societal expectations placed on women.

Ms. Clinton wrote in her most recent book WHAT HAPPENED, that she ran for president because she thinks she would have been a ‘damned good president.’

She certainly would have been. And so I suggested, half-joking, that ‘Would have been a damned good president’ is a perfect Twitter bio start. And then mother and wife and grandma and Senator and hair icon etc could follow!

I completely stand by my question and by my conviction that it is a subject that matters.

I had a truly enlightening evening on that stage with Ms. Clinton, and was once again awed by her grit, her humanity, her sparkling intelligence.

After the conversation, Ms. Clinton told me, “It was like talking to a friend.” She is now my Aunty For Life.

Oh, as for YOU, Unnamed Person, saying that I am ‘family’ to you, mbakwa biko. The people I consider family don’t ‘do petty.’

Saying “shut up” to a woman who airs an opinion is so unoriginal. Try and be a bit more inventive.

Try reasoning. Try intelligent debate. Try understanding things in context before you reveal your ignorant misogyny to the world. Try reading more than a headline. Try reading a whole book. Or two. And please keep talking. Keep speaking. Don’t ever shut up.

~CNA

Source; http://dailyleakblog.com/2018/04/24/chimamanda-adichie-responds-to-critics-over-hillary-clintons-twitter-bio-comment/

41 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by flexxyworld(m): 10:52pm On Apr 24, 2018
I don't even have anything to say about the post. However, it feels good to be FTC after such a long break.

to all those believing God for an opportunity like this, don't stop believing.

have a great day all.

5 Likes 1 Share

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by eezeribe(m): 10:52pm On Apr 24, 2018
Chimamanda can dissect Hillary Clinton as much as she likes;but one thing remains certain,the likes of Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama will forever remain more highly rated than Ngozi Adichie...
Hillary Clinton is a proud WIFE of former US president and one of the most influential men in the world,Bill Clinton;while Chimamanda remains the wife of a nobody,a man who is so weak that his wife can't even bear his surname.
I have nothing against TRUE FEMINISM,but there is a thin line between COMMON SENSE and NONSENSE.

456 Likes 49 Shares

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Ufranklin92(m): 10:54pm On Apr 24, 2018
Who get time to read wetin this sadist dey talk kwanu

84 Likes 6 Shares

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by littlewonders: 10:54pm On Apr 24, 2018
Quite another nice Novel. I enjoyed it. Who else did?

63 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Nobody: 10:57pm On Apr 24, 2018
Noise maker. And the only thing you wouldn't do is to pay a man's dowry and bring him into your house. Maybe you will need to teach Hilary Clinton how to speak Americanah! Or you can as well create your own world and make your own laws so that we can all worship you. Nonsense.

110 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by AmazonTopaz(f): 10:59pm On Apr 24, 2018
On point but don't expect some people to agree with you.I myself I do not entirely agree with you but there is a sense in your message which some people would not buy so no need giving them attention.

30 Likes 1 Share

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Nobody: 11:00pm On Apr 24, 2018
Lol. I'm a hundred percent sure she only came up with this trash because of the backlash. If this was truly the reason why she asked Hillary that question, she would have phrased it in a better way.

That aside, why try to create dispute in someone's marriage? Well, I just can't wrap my head around feminism.

177 Likes 9 Shares

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Nobody: 11:02pm On Apr 24, 2018
Mariinee:
Lol. I'm a hundred percent sure she only came up with this trash because of the backlash. If this was truly the reason why she asked Hillary that question, she would have phrased it in a better way.

That aside, why try to create dispute in someone's marriage? Well, I just can't wrap my head around feminism.

Thank you, my dear. Have always known her from UNN. Always seeking for attention, even when she has the stage.

77 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Nobody: 11:03pm On Apr 24, 2018
AmazonTopaz:
On point but don't expect some people to agree with you.I myself I do not entirely agree with you but there is a sense in your message which some people would not buy so no need giving them attention.
Exactly what I feel.

4 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Uyiii: 11:04pm On Apr 24, 2018
WOW, finally. If you were able to peruse this Fvckery completely, please be very proud and give yourself a round of applause.
You're not a Lazy yootcheesy

With that said, Chimamanda adichie please don't squash the love and high esteem we've rated and placed you over the years with your recent outrageous foolishness.
no amount of rigmaroling will bring out sense in the nonsense you've vomited.
with all due respect, kindly STFU.

157 Likes 9 Shares

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Nobody: 11:05pm On Apr 24, 2018
kaorama:


Thank you, my dear. Have always known her from UNN. Always seeking for attention, even when she has the stage.
Lol, it's kinda apparent in the way she speaks and puts her mouth in everything that is no business of hers.

Well, I like her books but, not her.

34 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Nobody: 11:13pm On Apr 24, 2018
Mariinee:
Lol, it's kinda apparent in the way she speaks and puts her mouth in everything that is no business of hers.

Well, I like her books but, not her.

Back then in UNN, the Priest in the campus catholic chapel warned her parents to call her to order after she challenged, in writing, the Priest's teachings on morality. She is Mrs know-it-all.

73 Likes 1 Share

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Nobody: 11:25pm On Apr 24, 2018
kaorama:


Back then in UNN, the Priest in the campus catholic chapel warned her parents to call her to order after she challenged, in writing, the Priest's teachings on morality. She is Mrs know-it-all.
Wow! Seriously? Lol.

13 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by preciousosas1(m): 11:27pm On Apr 24, 2018
Blah blah blah blah blah... mtcheeww

10 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by GodOfAction: 11:27pm On Apr 24, 2018
hmmm
kaorama:


Back then in UNN, the Priest in the campus catholic chapel warned her parents to call her to order after she challenged, in writing, the Priest's teachings on morality. She is Mrs know-it-all.

2 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by prechbills1(m): 12:48am On Apr 25, 2018
I keep thanking God that Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't win that election...

and to Chimamanda
She's Mrs not Ms...

Come back to Africa and start campaigning against the payment of bride price because I don't see any reason why I should pay money before marrying you and won't see you as a "lesser" human. I'd surely take you for a commodity.

To the monkeys that will/may quote me out of context, ;I'm a stunch feminist.




Other foods for thought;

Because a lady is ruling the UK, females are treated like gods there.

As a lady you slap a man in his ass without his consent and you'd be praised for it. You won't be jailed because of useless excuses like; oh she was only playing with him, it's a lie, oh she's pregnant, oh she has kids.
As a man you slap a lady in her ass without her consent and you'd be imprisoned or sued.
That's exactly what's happening in places like Britain, Germany and USA right now.

What's gonna happen if a lady is allowed to rule Nigeria today
men will be treated like dogs.

I pray I never become a President some day, because if I do, any lady that falsely accuses someone of rape, sexual harrasment and molestation will spend their entire lives in jail.


Why should a man be the one to lose more in a case of divorce?
We are in a world where women can't build homes, only men build homes and women move in freely.
Women are always awarded custody of children.


Women are more favoured than men in very very many things yet I pity the men don't complain, even if they do some people still call them "weak".



Like I said earlier I pray I don't become a President... that's all I got to say..


Quote me and answer yourself

110 Likes 8 Shares

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by GodOfAction: 1:59am On Apr 25, 2018
good
prechbills1:
I keep thanking God that Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't win that election...

and to Chimamanda
She's Mrs not Ms...

Come back to Africa and start campaigning against the payment of bride price because I don't see any reason why I should pay money before marrying you and won't see you as a "lesser" human. I'd surely take you for a commodity.

To the monkeys that will/may quote me out of context, ;I'm a stunch feminist.




Other foods for thought;

Because a lady is ruling the UK, females are treated like gods there.

As a lady you slap a man in his ass without his consent and you'd be praised for it. You won't be jailed because of useless excuses like; oh she was only playing with him, it's a lie, oh she's pregnant, oh she has kids.
As a man you slap a lady in her ass without her and you'd be imprisoned or sued.
That's exactly what's happening in places like Britain, Germany and USA right now.

What's gonna happen if a lady is allowed to rule Nigeria today
men will be treated like dogs.

I pray I never become a President some day, because if I do, any lady that falsely accuses someone of rape, sexual harrasment and molestation will spend their entire lives in jail.


Why should a man be the one to lose more in a case of divorce?
We are in a world where women can't build homes, only men build homes and women move in freely.
Women are always awarded custody of children.


Women are more favoured than men in very very many things yet I pity the men don't complain, even if they do some people still call them "weak".



Like I said earlier I pray I don't become a President... that's all I got to say..


Quote me and answer yourself

6 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by GodOfAction: 6:20am On Apr 25, 2018
AmazonTopaz:
On point but don't expect some people to agree with you.I myself I do not entirely agree with you but there is a sense in your message which some people would not buy so no need giving them attention.
grin
AmazonTopaz:
On point but don't expect some people to agree with you.I myself I do not entirely agree with you but there is a sense in your message which some people would not buy so no need giving them attention.
Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by OBTMOS(m): 6:58am On Apr 25, 2018
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Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Gossiplover: 6:58am On Apr 25, 2018
this woman should go and sit down... we no send am

15 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by coluka: 6:59am On Apr 25, 2018
Look at this foolish woman o, who send u? we are also tired of stupid women like you!!

24 Likes 1 Share

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Megatrix: 7:00am On Apr 25, 2018
I don't know what this woman is smoking these days but she's definitely high on something that's not good for her brain

15 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Nobody: 7:01am On Apr 25, 2018
smiley
Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Himmler: 7:02am On Apr 25, 2018
Foolish woman, she wrote two best selling books and suddenly she thinks she's the wisest person in the world. Intelligence does not mean wisdom and chimamanda is a perfect example of an intelligent fool.

43 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by shakurkings(m): 7:02am On Apr 25, 2018
These writers and long stories sef.

2 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by kingthreat(m): 7:02am On Apr 25, 2018
This is how I see it. When it comes to Feminism, Hilary Clinton is one of the world's champions. That's why thousands of them protested when Trump became president.
Now this Nigerian feminist who managed to escape being a home-wrecker in Anambra by being a successful writer, saw some flaws in her champion. To her, her champion should be Hilary Rodham not Hilary Clinton. It's just like an upcoming terrorist, telling Abu Shekau that he is not wicked enough, they should kill more. This is the reason why Hilary didn't react insulted with that question. Her mentees were simply scolding her for not being a total radical.
As for Chimamnda, I keep saying it her views are embedded in selfishness and idiotic feminism. Well feminism, homosexuality, atheism are part of the rave now and this woman is banking on it.

50 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Sunnycliff(m): 7:02am On Apr 25, 2018
Is she no longer Mrs. Clinton? Why the use of Ms. Clinton? Are they divorced or is this still a subtle way of preaching her feminism?

Chimamanda! Answer me o

31 Likes 1 Share

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Nobody: 7:03am On Apr 25, 2018
This post long shaaa... I'm a black man, I don't like to read.

3 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by DIYhackers: 7:03am On Apr 25, 2018
This lady is just misleading Nigerian girls with her rubbish feminist opinion.

She won't marry, she won't allow others to marry.

12 Likes

Re: Chimamanda Adichie Responds To Critics On Hillary Clinton’s Twitter Bio Question by Gullah: 7:04am On Apr 25, 2018
This woman has allowed herself to become a tool in the hand of the devil. She has entered on a wrong path and the earlier she steps back from it the better for her. She will only end up destroying herself and all those she ends up deceiving

19 Likes

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