“A man can sleep with 30–40 women and still marry, but a woman can sleep with 7–10 men and be rejected” — Chiwetalu Agu

Veteran Nollywood actor Chiwetalu Agu has spoken about what he described as a double standard in how men and women are judged over their sexual history.

In a video shared online, Agu said a man could have sexual relationships with several women and still find a partner willing to settle down with him, while a woman with a smaller number of past partners could face rejection because of her history.

“A man can sleep with 30 to 40 women and still end up with the woman who is ready to settle down with him. A woman can sleep with 7 to 10 men and end up being rejected simply because of her past,” he said.

He argued that the social consequences of the same behaviour can differ depending on gender, adding that there may be little evidence of a man’s past relationships while a woman’s past could become a major issue.

Agu also warned people against assuming that they would face the same consequences as others when making certain decisions, particularly when there is a difference in financial resources.

Using drug use as an example, he said a wealthy person’s child might have access to overseas treatment and rehabilitation if things went wrong, while someone without similar resources could struggle to recover from the consequences.

“The behaviour is the same, but the resources available to deal with the consequences are different,” he said.

He urged people to consider the potential consequences of their actions before making decisions, stressing that wisdom involves recognising what one cannot afford to do.

Watch video below: