TABLE
OF CONTENTS
PAGES
Title Page
……………………………………………………………………………. i
Certification
…………………………………………………………………………. ii
Dedication
……………………………………………………………………………. iii
Acknowledgement
……………………………………………………………….. iv
Abstract
……………………………………………………………………………….. v
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background
of the study………………………………………….. 1
1.1 Statement
of the problem……………………………………….. 3
1.2 Objectives of the
study…………………………………………….. 4
1.3 Significance
of the study ………………………………………….. 5
1.4 Research
Questions…………………………………………………… 6
1.5 Research
Hypotheses ……………………………………………….. 7
1.6 Scope
and Limitation………………………………………………… 8
1.7 Chapter
organisation………………………………………………… 8
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
……………………………………………………………… 10
2.1 Conceptual
and Operational Definition……………………. 12
2.2 Gender discrimination and Relevant
Convention……… 14
2.3 Role
of the media to curb Gender discrimination…….. 16
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction……………………………………………………………….. 21
3.1 Sample
Size ……………………………………………………………… 21
3.2 Method
of Data Collection ……………………………………….. 22
3.2.1 Questionnaires
…………………………………………………………. 22
3.2.2 Interview……………………………………………………………………. 23
3.3 Data
collection instrument………………………………………. 23
3.4 Procedure
for analyzing collected Data…………………… 24
3.5 Limitation
of Methodology……………………………………….. 24
CHAPTER
FOUR : DATA
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………….. 25
4.2 Presentations
and Analysis of Data………………………… 25
4.3 Hypothesis
testing and Interpretation…………………….. 40
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY,
RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
5.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………. 44
5.1 Summary
and Findings…………………………………………….. 44
5.2 Recommendation………………………………………………………. 46
5.3 Conclusion
………………………………………………………………… 49
REFERENCES …………………………………………………………… 51
APPENDIX A:
Research Questionnaire ………………… 55
LIST
OF TABLES
Table 1: Name of your media organisation……………………………….. 25
Table 2: Type of your media organisation………………………………….. 26
Table 3: Marital Status ………………………………………………………………… 26
Table 4: Distribution of Age ………………………………………………………… 27
Table 5: Ethnic Group…………………………………………………………………… 27
Table 6: Length of Service……………………………………………………………. 27
Table 7: Highest Educational Qualification…………………………………… 28
Table 8: Positions and Status ………………………………………………………. 28
Table 9: Remuneration for females in the media industry………….. 29
Table 10: Females in the media
organisation have developed
Effective strategies as a means of strengthening
Their
participation in the media industry ……………………… 29
Table 11: Female media practitioners,
status in the profession
And
good tract records of performance ……………………….. 30
Table 12: Female practitioners and
effectiveness at higher
management
level in media organisation………………………. 30
Table 13: International
conventions/resolutions on gender
based
discrimination in the media profession……………….. 31
Table 14: Females and New Obstacles in
reading decision
making
position……………………………………………………………….. 31
Table 15: Discrimination against
female during interview ………….. 32
Table 16: Female in management
positions and their Impact
On
portrayal of women in media……………………………………. 32
Table 17: Ratio of male to female in
the media profession…………. 33
Table 18: Females in the media
profession and time of marriage. 33
Table 19: The delay in marriage,
challenges of rearing children
and
coping with their career prospect …………………………… 34
Table 20: Female and type of
role………………………………………………… 34
Table 21: Female and ability to handle sophisticated
modern
Gadgets
…………………………………………………………………………. 35
Table 22: Females and reasons for
going into media profession.. 35
Table 23: Females, indiscipline,
lateness and laxity ………………….. 36
Table 24: Females in media and nature
of responsibilities ………… 36
Table 25: Females in power and
decision making and ability
to
influence media policies ……………………………………………… 37
Table 26: The stereotyped portrayal of
women with negative
images
of women…………………………………………………………… 37
Table 27: Nigerian Policy on women
empowerment and female
Discrimination
in the media ………………………………………….. 38
Table 28: Female in the media and poor negotiation for
salary……………………………………………………………………………….. 38
Table 29: Double – standard in
measuring performance of
Females
in media organisation ……………………………………… 39
Table 30: Traditions and male
chauvinism are two strong factors
Sustaining
female discrimination ………………………………….. 39
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
This research examines mass media and gender
discrimination in Nigeria with special focus on female gender
discrimination. Gender issue or what is
otherwise called feminism and womanism has been a topical issue in the
contemporary period, as series of books and articles have been written on the
topic; many conferences have been held to discuss this matter with far reaching
recommendations, and many international conventions have been made across the
globe to redress the perceived imbalance between the male and female in the
both advanced and developing countries.
In 1995, the issue of women and media
was an area of concern in the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), thus
reflecting a growing recognition that media and communication are key for
women's equality. The discussion identified two key areas where action was
needed. One, to increase the participation and access of women to expression
and decision-making in and through the media and new technologies of
communication. Two, to promote a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of
women in the media.
Enemaku (2005) in a write-up on
gender dichotomy noted that a look at the composition of participants in the
2005 National Political Reforms Conference (NPRC) in Abuja indicates that while men constitute a
staggering 93%, women are only about 7% of the total 394 members. Similarly the
average age of participants is put at about 64.5 years (The Punch, Thursday, February 17, 2005,
p.1). This implication of the above marginalization of women is that issues
bothering on women and children will take a back seat. Wicked and harmful practices affecting women
and children will not be discussed.
Women are described in terms of
appearance rather than abilities. There are fabricated stigmatization such as
“the weaker sex”, “the office of the woman is in the kitchen” to mention but a
few. Moreover, the increased
commercialisation of every medium has intensified the visibility of negative
images on female, from billboards to television to newspaper. New media are
perpetuating and accentuating much that is negative about the portrayal of
women in computer games pornography, advertisement, fashion and music videos.
This has happened despite growing numbers of women in business, of women
parliamentarians and journalists.
Furthermore, women are often
represented as being part of a context (family, friends, colleagues) and
working or thinking as part of a team not independent. In drama, they tend to
take the role of helper or object, passive rather than active. Often their passivity
extends to victimhood. Men are still represented as TV drama characters up to 3
times more frequently than women, and tend to be the predominant focus of news
stories. The representations of women
that do make it onto page and screen do tend to be stereotypical, in terms of
conforming to societal expectations, and characters who do not fit into the
mould tend to be seen as dangerous and deviant.
There are some notable improvement and
exceptions to a generally negative situation and participation of women, often
as a result of affirmative action, advocacy and enforcement of international
conventions on gender discrimination. Women’s organizations and media
monitoring groups have had an active role to play in promoting change. A wide
variety of women's media initiatives are making a positive impact both in Nigeria and
abroad. There have been a few worthy governmental initiatives and training of
journalists and other media makers has also help to increase female presence in
media organisations.
To redress the imbalance and
discrimination against women in the media, Werden (2000) suggested that Micro
radio transmitters small enough to fit into women’s purse could be used to
establish media outfits to meet the needs of women to communicate their issues,
and that enough money can be raised by women organizations and NGOs to start
and run licensed stations in the US.
This suggestion and be replicated in Nigeria. In the economic and commercial areas this was
achieved with the setting up of women participatory programmes like Better Life
from Rural Women, Family Support Programme (FSP) et cetera. In the political arena, women are also making
very great impact.
1.1 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
The media profession is heavily
dominated by the male right from independence. To date there has not been very
significant improvement in the number of women and their negative portrayal in
the media industry, be it print, electronic media, broadcasting, or
advertising. Negative, stereotyped, inaccurate and violent images of women
potential and competence are pervasive. Women are described in terms of
appearance rather than abilities, they are screened out during interview when
discovered to be married because the media organization would suffer during her
maternity leave and pregnancy.
Most women working in the media are in
low paying positions with little responsibility, and remote access to
managerial position. Studies show senior women drop out when the double load of
home and work are too much to juggle. Many of the women are dissatisfied and
feel unchallenged in the workplace, which is a male defined and dominated
space. The Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA, 1999) underlines the importance
of women's media and networks for promoting debate and disseminating information.
Also as a means of recognizing the specific needs of women in media, and
facilitating their increased participation in communication. Women's advocacy
to redress the problem of discrimination against their interest is criticized
and described by some people as "preaching to the converted". That is
, men have made up their minds to dominate the industry and that there is very
little women can do to change the status quo.
1.2 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The general
objective of this research is to examine the Nigerian mass media and degree of
discrimination against female. However,
the specific objectives are:
1.
To examine the
contribution of the female media practitioners in the media industry.
2. To assess the level of competence of female
relative to male in the media industry.
3. To highlight the factors responsible for
discrimination against female in the media industry.
4. To contribute to knowledge on gender issue
through recommendations
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
Research on gender (female)
discrimination in the mass media is topical and timely. It will be significant in many respect as it
will aid international organizations, countries, women advocacy group,
activists, civil society and policy maker on female matters in many respect:
1.
Identifying the level of investment needed to train the female media
practitioners to be at the same level with their male counterparts.
2.
Passing an anti-discrimination
bill enforcing the employment of female in media industry.
3. Educating
the society on the colossal loss being suffered by the country as a result of
discrimination against female in media industry.
3
Creating an awareness regarding
the needs and challenges facing women in the media industry and advancing
solutions.
1.3.1
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
A
total of 30 research questions would be raised in the questionnaire designed
for collection of information from respondents in the few media houses selected
for this research. These important questions are as highlighted:
1. What strategies have female media
staff developed as a means of strengthening women's participation in the media?
2. How are female using the media to
enhance their status in the profession?
3. Are females in the media taking
advantage of International conventions/resolutions to increase their media
presence, marketability and visibility?
4. Can women perform effectively
at higher management level in the media organization ?
5. Do
women face new obstacles in reaching decision-making positions?
6. Have
the few women in management positions in media establishment been able to
effect a change in the portrayal of women in media?
7. Why
are the few women in management position not been able to effect negative
portrayal of women in the media?
8. If
not, why, and what could be done to make this happen?
9. What
mechanisms would women want to see put in place to curb discrimination against
female in the media?
10. And
what proposals are women putting forward to shape the media of the future and
make them more gender-sensitive?
11. What
steps have governments and multilateral agencies taken to encourage such
activities?
1.3.2
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
Hypothesis
is a statement of fact subject to empirical verification. For the purpose of this project, three key
hypotheses have been identified. They are as follows:
Ho: There is no effective representation of females in the media industry.
H1: There is effective representation of females in the media industry.
Ho: Female media practitioners are not as qualified and productive as their
male colleagues.
H1: Female media practitioners are as qualified and productive as their male
colleagues.
Ho: Females are not significantly represented at the management level in
media organizations.
H1: Females are significantly represented at the management level in
media organizations.
1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION
Gender
issue both in Nigeria
and the world over is a sensitive and topical issue, which cannot be researched
into without considering the opinions of the cross-section of people who are
directly at the receiving end. The scope
of this study would therefore be on 50 respondents from the five media houses
selected in Lagos
axis, namely:
(i)
NTA 10
(ii)
The Punch Newspaper
(iii)
The
Guardian Newspaper
(iv)
Federal
Radio Corporation of Nigeria
(v)
African
Independent Television
The two major limitations
are:
(i)
Inadequate
relevant literature on the topic i.e. past research work carried out on the
topic in the context of Nigeria.
(ii)
Poor access to
required and relevant information.
1.7 CHAPTER
ORGANIZATION
Chapter one titled introduction
contains among others background of the study, statement of the problems,
objectives of the study, research questions, research hypotheses, methodology,
scope of the study and limitations, significance of the study. Chapter two,
titled literature review contains introduction on gender and the media,
definition of gender, international conventions et cetera.
Chapter three titled research
methodology contains introduction, method of study, sampling procedure, data
gathering procedure & sources, questionnaire administration, method of data
analysis, reliability and validity of research and statistical tools. Chapter four is the data analysis; it
contains tabulation of data/responses, testing of hypotheses and
interpretations. Chapter five contains summary, recommendations and conclusions.
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