Gender stereotypes in Nigerian films as a portrayal of the African womanhood: A feminist perspective

Abstract

This article examines gender stereotypes in Nigerian movies, which serves as a representation of the African womanhood. Drawing on a feminist critic perspective, the study analyzes how African womanhood and men are portrayed in Nollywood films, and also identifies the most commonly employed gender-stereotypical portrayals in these films. The theoretical framework of the study draws from feminist film theory. Findings in the study reveal that gender-stereotypical representation is highly persistent in Nollywood films, where women are often portrayed in roles that depict them as sex objects, weak, and often dependent on men. Men, on the other hand, are often depicted to be independent, successful, and breadwinners. Women are often portrayed in domesticated and traditional roles, while the men in these films take up professional and leadership roles. Analysis in the study shows that, most commonly employed female stereotypes include femme fatale, career woman, trophy wives, primary caregivers (i.e., wives, mothers), dependent, lazy, and secondary to men. This study offers the pros and cons of the representation of African womanhood through these Nigerian films and the need to address the rising potential anticultural stereotypes.