FEMINIST APPROACH AS AN OPTION IN CONTENDING ECONOMIC RECESSION: HUSBAND FOR HIRE TELENOVELA AS PARADIGM

Abstract

One of the challenges that has bedevilled today's society, is the total relegation of women to the background in the scheme of things. This is also reflected in films. Feminist scholars, critics and women's movements have relentlessly challenged the stereotypical representations of women in films all over the world, criticizing their depictions as subordinates, emotional cripples, sex-starved spinsters, housewives and psychotics. Despite the efforts to locate a lasting solution, the discrimination still lingers on. The contributions of women towards development in every society if given a more collaborative inclusive environment are immense. This is even so, especially in recent times that call for desperate measures to ending the global economic recession. It is against this backdrop that this study intends to identify how some films are helping or have helped in the redirection and construction of the gender roles of women that will lead to alleviating the economic recession, using the Telenovela, Husband for Hire. The study adopts the qualitative method of research using content analysis to identify how these films have redefined the position and roles of women as well as their capabilities. The findings of the study revealed that films are potent tools for creating and reinforcing images of reality and gender roles that can help in the solutions required for curbing the recent economic recession. Hence, it was recommended that there is the need for reconstruction of content to achieve better portrayals of women and to highlight hard-work as well as the creation of films that reinforce ‘less ego' for men and a more collaborative inclusive environment for women to foster better development.