THE NOLLYWOOD MOVIES ADDRESSING GENDER INEQUALITY

Summary

The study set out to investigate Nollywood movies and the ways they address gender inequality. The three research objectives raised for the study are; to examine the characteristics of women representations of inequality in Nollywood movies, to identify the factors that contributes to gender inequality in movies and to examine the interactional representation of feminism and gender inequality in Nollywood movies. Three research questions were formulated. The theory that underpins this research is the feminist film theory. A survey research design is employed for this study as a result of the nature of the research.  The population of this study comprises Benin City residents. The population in Benin City is 1,495,800 (2015 population estimate).The sample size is 400 respondents. A simple random sampling technique is adopted for this study. Residents will have equal chances of selection. The research instrument chosen for this study was the questionnaire. The instrument was subjected to content validity by the supervisor who is an expert in the subject matter of investigation. The data for the study was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Simple percentages, tables and graphs will be used to illustrate the findings of the study. The analysis was descriptive and logically presented. Findings revealed the following;

1. Respondents agree in the average that the ideal woman in the movies is submissive to a man this is the case as the mean score of 3.6783 implies agree as the average response this also implies that the respondents have observed in movies that the female character likely projected as ideal is submissive. The mean score for female playing domestic roles is 4.023 which is significant. The good woman has attributes of getting the reward of marriage. This is the case as respondents agree in the average (3.9871). Respondents also agree that the roles of witches are assigned to women. They agree that an independent woman is likely cast as a bad character in movies (4.1232). Conversely, the male role was agreed by respondents to be usually assigned the hero who rescues the women who gets into trouble (4.0771).
2. Respondents agree (3.878) that the Nollywood industry is male dominated. This is a significant factor which explains any patriarchy gets reflected in the movies as men re-enact their world views in the movies they dominate and produce. Respondents disagree that most Nollywood films address gender inequality (1.234). Respondents disagree that Most Nollywood films have been helpful in addressing the problems confronted by women in society (2.014). They are also of the view that Nollywood Films do not fight for the cause of women in society as the mean score shows that the average response is “agree” (4.113). Respondents strongly disagree on the average that women are usually assigned roles of power in Nollywood movies (1.342) just as they agree that Nollywood films do not fight the cause of women (4.113). Respondents also agree that when a film violates cultural norms, it is not going to be well received as the mean score for this statement (4.6789) is very significant. Respondents also agree that movies which depict gender equality will not be well received by the public (4,7891). Other significant factors are the motivation for profit (4.7831), avoidance of the situation of offending sensibilities (4.1121) the role of dominant religions in relegating gender equality (3.9871) as the fear of low patronage (3.8771). The implication of these findings is that there are economic, traditional, religious and market impedes film makers from championing or promoting gender equality in movies.