Portrayal of Women in Contemporary Nollywood Films: Isoken and King of Boys in Focus

Emwinromwankhoe Osakpolor

doi:10.5195/cinej.2021.299

Abstract

This study investigates the portrayal of women in contemporary Nollywood films, using Isoken (2017) and King of Boys (2018) as case studies. The objective was to highlight the various ways in which women in the films are portrayed to viewers and ascertain whether contemporary Nollywood movies are an improvement on the issues of gender stereotypes and sexism which are hitherto prevalent in the industry. Anchored on the cultivation theory, the study adopted the qualitative content analysis method. Findings showed that women in the studied films are negatively portrayed in various ways and that these portrayals are, at best, parallel to the stereotypical ways in which women were portrayed in previous Nollywood movies. Taking cognizance of the fact that both films are directed by women, the researcher recommends that Nollywood female directors should look beyond the lenses of financial gains and set a pace with regards to changing the narrative and portraying Nigerian women in a positive light.

Highlights

Film, referred to as movie, motion picture, theatrical film or photo-play, is unarguably a medium of mass communication
A film plays a role in the education and indoctrination of citizens in a country, and helps in the formation of ideas, attitudes as well as the representation of religions, cultures and ideologies (Perkins, 2000; Ibrahim, 2013; Uzuegbunam & Ononiwu, 2018)
Despite the consistent outcry by scholars and critics that Nollywood film scriptwriters, producers and directors should desist from their regular act of portraying women in a negative light, the status quo has remained the same as is evident in the analysed films, Isoken and King of Boys

Summary

Introduction

Referred to as movie, motion picture, theatrical film or photo-play, is unarguably a medium of mass communication. A film plays a role in the education and indoctrination of citizens in a country, and helps in the formation of ideas, attitudes as well as the representation of religions, cultures and ideologies (Perkins, 2000; Ibrahim, 2013; Uzuegbunam & Ononiwu, 2018). As Ibrahim (2013) rightly notes, the film is a potent medium through which pertinent ideas, norms and values are relayed to people across various parts of the globe. Arguing in this line, Uzuegbunam & Ononiwu (2018) observe that a film can harbour ideologies, empathy, misconceptions, beliefs and stereotypes which can be uncovered with critical eyes. As Dehchenari, Abdullah & Eng (2014) opine, gender stereotypes in films are very influential and they affect people’s conceptualisation of men and women as well as establish social categories for both genders

Methods

Conclusion