International Journal of Gender & Women's Studies

Media (Mis) Representation of the Nigerian Woman as a Product of the Society
Endong, Floribert Patrick C.; Obonganwan, Edim Ekpenyong

Abstract
Hinging principally on secondary data and observations, this paper attempts to show how forces that are external to the media (notably culture, religion, the law, education and the like) influence the media, determine/control their output and consequently shape media representation of women in the Nigerian society. It argues that the misrepresentation of women in the Nigerian mass media is more a product of gender-relation among other dynamics in the Nigerian society. Media contents are most often fine-tuned according to societal beliefs and realities so as to appear realistic/believable, appealing to audiences’ emotions and ultimately to win audiences’ consensus. The paper argues and concludes that a more promising approach to the eradication of women stereotyping and misrepresentations in the Nigerian media should therefore not only consider media’s andocentric configurations and predispositions, but start from revolutionary social changes in favor of women emancipation in the other ideological state apparatuses (family, education, religion, law among others) which, to a great extent, seriously control the media of mass communication and determine their output.

Full Text: PDF      DOI: 10.15640/ijgws.v3n1a10