‘We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls “You can have ambition, but not too much.”’
Orange prize-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a feminist – and Beyoncé is a fan.

The Nigerian writer defines a feminist as ‘a person who believes in the social, economic and political equality of the sexes’, words Beyoncé sings on ‘***Flawless,’ one of the tracks from her surprise new album, which also features collaborations with Drake, Frank Ocean, daughter Blue Ivy and husband Jay Z.

The words Beyoncé has sampled have been lifted from Adichie’s TedX talk, ‘We should all be feminists.’ During the 30 minute speech, the Nigerian writer discusses her relationship with feminism through anecdotes describing incidents of sexism she experienced in her childhood and different definitions and opinions she has variously embraced and rejected over the years: ‘that word feminist is so heavy with baggage, negative baggage. You hate men, you hate bras…’

Adichie’s talk is also packed with inspiring and insightful statements.

‘Because I am a female, I am expected to aspire to marriage,’ she says. ‘I am expected to make my choices always keeping in mind that marriage is the most important. Marriage can be... a source of joy and love and mutual support. But why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don't teach boys the same?’

Adichie also believes we raise girls ‘to see each other as competitors, not for jobs or accomplishments which I think can be a good thing, but for the attention of men.’

Watch the preview of ‘***Flawless’ below.

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