Study of the Portrayal of Women in Nollywood Films and Its Influence on Gender Perception Among Youth in Lagos State

Nollywood films shape social attitudes and gender perceptions in Nigerian society, and examining how women are portrayed and how these portrayals influence youth gender attitudes in Lagos provides evidence for media responsibility policy. This study examined the portrayal of women in a sample of Nollywood productions and its influence on gender perception among undergraduate students in Lagos State, South West Nigeria. A content analysis of 20 purposively selected Nollywood films produced between 2020 and 2023 was conducted alongside a survey of 300 undergraduates from two Lagos universities. Content analysis revealed that women were predominantly assigned domestic, passive, or villainous roles in 72 percent of the analysed films. Male characters held authoritative positions in 88 percent of scenes requiring professional decision-making. Survey results showed that 58 percent of male respondents held gender attitudes consistent with the subservient female roles most frequently depicted, compared to 39 percent of female respondents. Students with high Nollywood consumption (above 10 hours weekly) showed significantly more rigid gender attitude scores than low consumers. However, 44 percent of respondents stated that Nollywood portrayals did not reflect their personal reality. The study concludes that Nollywood has a measurable though not deterministic influence on youth gender perception. Recommendations include advocacy for gender equitable scriptwriting in the Nigerian film industry, industry self-regulation codes, and media literacy education at secondary and tertiary levels in Lagos State.

Keywords: Nollywood, gender portrayal, youth gender perception, Lagos State, Nigerian cinema