A Critical Review on Gender Based Violence in Nigeria: Media Dimension

Abstract

During the Covid-19 pandemic, women and girls around the world have been subjected to sexual and physical violence, which has never happened before. Women are killed in the name of honor in Asia and the Middle East, while girls in West Africa are subjected to genital mutilation in the name of tradition. Because the perpetrators believe that sex with virgins will cure them of their disease, young girls in Southern Africa are raped and infected with HIV/AIDS. According to the findings, the majority of Nigerian women have been victims of gender-based violence, such as incest, rape, physical abuse, verbal abuse, denial of food, forced marriage, and early child marriage. The findings of the study also revealed that age, employment, educational attainment, witnessing a mother being beaten as a child, family type, duration of union, participation in household decision-making, employment status relative to woman, differences in educational qualification between a male partner and woman, attitudes toward wife-beating among men and women, and male right to discipline or control females are all factors that contribute to gender-based violence. Sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, physical injuries, immediate psychological reactions such as shock, shame, guilt, and anger; and long-term psychological outcomes such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, lack of sexual pleasure, and fears are all health consequences of gender-based violence. The study concludes that gender-based violence has a negative impact not only on women and their reproductive health but also on Nigeria's economy and progress.