The image of women and the role of the media in a new political culture in Nigeria

This article surveys how the mass media in Nigeria portray women and treat issues affecting them. It begins by looking at the number and status of women in Nigerian media institutions which, it argues, reflects 'the structural oppression of women' and their 'subordination in society'. It proceeds to argue that the mass media portray women and issues affecting them in a manner that is predominately negative and 'special' as though women were not part of 'normal' society. This has constituted overt or covert mental oppression of women. It calls on women in the media to spearhead the struggle for change away from the stereotype treatment of women by the mass media, and on the media themselves to consciously eliminate such stereotype images of women in the light of the new political and social culture in Nigeria.