Veteran female Journalist and Broadcaster, Theresa Adeyemi, narrates how being a Professional Journalist destroyed her marriage in an interview with Uzor Odigbo.
Adeyemi tackled challenges a few women in Journalism usually face in this chat.
“It was not easy, when I got married, I’m going to use myself as an example. when I told my husband about my job as a Journalist, he said no problem but Later in the marriage, he said I’m not liking your job, I said, you have to like it, because when I came, I told you and my mum also told you about my job which they were proud of. I spend time to explain to my husband the intricacies inherent in my job.
“I told him that I’m in the media, where sometimes, I don’t have to come home all the time, he said I should take an oath, that no man would climb me. I said, you don’t have to test me with that. That was the beginning and the end of my marriage. Because my job makes me come across so many People. He said, okay he only tested me, but assuming I have no intension of doing some negative stuff, I would have agreed to take an oath with him.
“There are times I need to go outside my state to cover events, most men would not tolerate that, when it comes to your marriage or relationship there’s definitely going to be hiccups, even right now I’m in relationship, my job is the problem. He would want me to stay with him, and it’s a problem because I love what I do Best.
“But to some men, they see women in Journalism as being lucky, because it can open doors, you go to a minister’s office for interviews, they open doors for you, but for men, it’s a bit difficult, it’s also difficult for women because its not all doors opens. For me, if you want to stay in Journalism and also stay in marriage it is difficult, it would get to a point you have to chose one, only grace will save you.”
On the hiccups on the job, Adeyemi said, “I go out a lot, but if you don’t have an understanding husband it becomes difficult. At times, there are temptation, let me give you a shocker, I have being to somebody for an interview, a politician but I won’t mention his name. During the interview, he kept staring at my boobs, he suddenly stopped the interview, with all our equipment, Cameras etc, he said, he is not going do that anymore. If it were to be men, He would not have done that. Ladies go through this kind of things, Though not all, but if you are in the media and you’re flashy, it’s a problem. It could be a blessing or a curse or both.
“If you ask me to rate men and women in the media in terms of hardwork, I would rate them 50-50, professionally, academically we match the men. We also have some women that report crime and they are very good on the job. And for some men, they can’t even do it, In newscasting, presenting, men and women do all that, tell me what men do in Journalism women cannot do. On job satisfaction, in some Stations they pay well and in some they don’t, that explains the adage ‘all fingers are not equal ‘ My advise for young women in Journalism is to stay focused, we all learn on the job, they should take a ‘chill pill’ and be patient. Government should look into the Journalism profession and support it with palliatives. We are also citizens of this country, fending for our families as well”.
