Veteran Nollywood actor Jim Iyke has stirred conversation with his recent critique of modern feminism, arguing that the movement has significantly deviated from its foundational objectives. Speaking during an interview on The EchoRoom, the 48-year-old actor described the current form of feminism as distorted and at times "bordering on criminality."
Iyke acknowledged that early feminist movements played a crucial role in challenging patriarchy and advocating for gender equity. However, he contended that today’s feminism has evolved into an ideology that fosters unnecessary rivalry between men and women rather than encouraging mutual respect and collaboration.
“I consider it a crime, a kind of assault,” Iyke remarked. “The perpetrators of this… clearly, I would not name the magazine… launched a clever campaign to push sales. Who were their chief readers? Women. So they devised an ideology that allowed women to challenge the status quo and compete with men in the same space.”
The actor claimed that a women’s magazine strategically commercialized feminism as a marketing tool, planting seeds for a wider cultural shift that he believes has now gone too far. According to him, this campaign encouraged some women to adopt an adversarial stance toward men, promoting slogans such as ‘we do not need a man’ or ‘anything a man can do, we can do better’ — sentiments he sees as counterproductive.
Iyke further criticized what he perceives as the double standards within the movement, pointing out that the ideology often swings between extremes instead of advocating balance.
“The double standard of it all is what makes me question the ideology in the first place,” he said. “Do you not understand the falsehood of it? The two-faced approach to it? I believe men and women have distinct roles and when they work together in harmony that is when true balance is achieved. That is what they are yet to understand.”
While Iyke’s comments reflect a broader skepticism shared by some critics of modern feminism, they have also sparked debate about the ongoing evolution of gender discourse in society — particularly within conservative and patriarchal contexts where traditional gender roles remain deeply entrenched.
The actor, who has built a reputation for speaking candidly on social issues, made it clear that his critique was not of feminism in its entirety, but rather the contemporary version that, in his view, misrepresents the movement’s original intent.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with gender-based challenges, including unequal access to opportunities, domestic violence, and underrepresentation in politics and corporate leadership, Iyke’s remarks touch on an ongoing societal conversation — one that remains deeply complex and emotionally charged.