AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PORTRAYAL OF THE FEMALE GENDER IN NOLLYWOOD MOVIES

ABSTRACT

Media representation and portrayal affects women not only intrapersonally, but also interpersonally. Outside the media, women are treated, as well as held, to the standards and responsibilities placed on them in the media, by the media. The image and representation of the female gender in Nigerian movies has occupied the realm of discourse for several decades now. Hence, this study was aimed at analyzing and examining the portrayal of women in Nollywood movies using two movies. Premise on the tenets of the feminist film theory and framing theory, the survey research design was adopted using a 16-item questionnaire to elicit data from 100 respondents, selected through stratified random sampling technique among the full time undergraduate students (Nollywood audience) from the department of Mass communication, University of Benin. Data generated were presented and analyzed with the aid of the frequency table and percentage. Findings revealed that Nollywood movies play an important role in the promotion of gender inequality through the negative portrayal of the female gender and giving more prominence to the male gender in their contents. Hence, suggestions were made by the respondents in order for Nollywood to improve women's unequal representation in its movies and the conditions of women in the Nigerian society. This study therefore concluded and recommended that; Nollywood should encourage the positive portrayal of women in its movies, and endeavour to promote gender equality in it's movie contents. Nollywood in its movies should correct the wrong perception of women in the Nigerian society. Also, equal opportunities should be given to women in movies, places of work and the society at large.