Media Representation and Women’s Identity in Nigeria
Main Article Content
Abstract
Media representation plays a significant role in shaping societal perceptions and influencing the construction of women's identities. This paper argues that media representation remains a critical determinant of women's identity formation in Nigeria and that prevailing portrayals of women continue to reinforce gender inequalities despite recent advances in digital communication. The study is premised on the view that media content does not merely reflect social reality but actively constructs meanings about gender, power, and social participation. Drawing on Feminist Media Theory and Social Representation Theory, the paper examines how stereotypical portrayals, limited political visibility, and culturally conditioned narratives influence the perception and self-construction of women in Nigerian society. Adopting a qualitative documentary research design, the study critically reviews relevant scholarly literature on media representation, gender stereotypes, women's identity, political participation, and digital media. The findings indicate that Nigerian media frequently portray women within restrictive gender frameworks that undermine their visibility and contributions to national development. The paper concludes that more inclusive and empowering representations are necessary for strengthening women's identity, promoting gender equality, and enhancing women's participation in social, political, and economic development. It recommends the adoption of gender-sensitive media practices and increased representation of women in leadership and public discourse.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Article Details
How to Cite
Hyande Mngusonun Anita. (2026). Media Representation and Women’s Identity in Nigeria. SIASAT, 11(3), 211-220. Retrieved from https://siasatjournal.id/index.php/siasat/article/view/271
Section
Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright Notice
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.Penulis.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (Refer to The Effect of Open Access).
References
Ademosu, I., Aondover, E. M., Osadolor, B., & Abraham, B. (2025). Divisive politics: analysis of ethnic rhetoric and hate speech in the 2023 Lagos Governorship elections. Frontiers in Political Science, 7, 1663797.
Aladi, J. A., & Okoro, N. (2021). Media representation of Nigerian women in the news: Evidence from selected newspapers. Journal of International Women's Studies, 22(5), 437–452.
Aladi, J. A., & Okoro, N. (2021). Media representation of Nigerian women in the news: Evidence from selected newspapers. Journal of International Women's Studies, 22(5), 437–452. https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol22/iss5/27/
Al-Wahaibi, S. (2025). Elites’ perceptions of women’s representation in the Omani media. Frontiers in Sociology, 10, Article 1724294. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1724294
Aondover, E. M. (2024). Media Outlook of Hate Speech in the 2015 and 2019 General Elections in Nigeria. Rotura–Revista de Comunicação, Cultura e Artes, 4(1), 50-63.
Aondover, E. M., & Ademosu, I. (2025). E-learning practices of journalism education in Nigerian higher education institutions: Conceptual context and challenges. In Media and communication systems for sustainability in Nigeria (pp. 451-464). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
Aondover, E. M., & Obasi, M. (2025). Identity and the Narratives of Conflict in Nigerian Media. In Media, Conflicts and the National Security Question: Communicating (In) security in Nigeria, West Africa and the Sahel (pp. 315-334). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
Aondover, E. M., Ademosu, I., & Acheme, R. (2026). Perception of Hate Speech in the 2023 Presidential Political Campaigns on Voter Behaviour in Nigeria. Frontiers in Political Science, 8, 1750183.
Aondover, E. M., Daushe, A. U., Ogunbola, O., & Aondover, P. O. (2025). Media coverage of internally displaced persons in two selected newspapers in Nigeria. Journal of Migration and Health, 11, 100301.
Aondover, E. M., Ogri, E., Obukoadata, P., & Ogri, O. (2025). Nigerian Media Practitioners, Editorial Freedom and Owners’ Influence: The Continued Triad and Navigation of Conflicting Interests. Editorial Freedom and Owners’ Influence: The Continued Triad and Navigation of Conflicting Interests.
Aondover, E. M., Yar’Adua, S. M., & Aondover, P. O. (2025). Influence of Digital Images on the Propagation of Fake News on Twitter in Russia and Ukraine Crisis. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 59-74.
Aondover, E. M., Yusuf, N. T., & Muhammad, M. (2025). Psychological and Physical Safety of Foreign Journalists Covering Boko Haram Conflict in Borno State, Nigeria. In Navigating Trauma in African Journalism, Volume 1: Scholarly Foundations and Secondary Trauma (pp. 209-228). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
Aondover, P. O., Aondover, E. M., Adewale, O. C., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., & Maradun, L. U. (2024). Media portrayal of female celebrities in the Nigerian press. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 11(4), 346–358.
Endong, F. P. C., & Obonganwan, E. E. (2015). Media (mis)representation of the Nigerian woman as a product of the society. International Journal of Gender and Women’s Studies, 3(1), 101–106. https://doi.org/10.15640/ijgws.v3n1p10
Ette, M. (2017). Where are the women? Evaluating visibility of Nigerian female politicians in news media space. Gender, Place & Culture, 24(11), 1483–1497. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2017.1387104
Fafowora, B. L. (2020). Media construction and representation of women in political leadership positions: A study of selected news media outlets in Nigeria (Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch University). Stellenbosch University Repository. https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/109161
Ibrahim, L. Y. (2026). Role of media representation of schools’ physical education programmes in Nigeria: A systematic review. Tropical Journal of Education, 8(1), 13–20.
Maradun, L. U., & Aondover, E. M. (2025). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Towards COVID-19 Prevention Messages on Media in North-West, Nigeria. African Journalism Studies, 1-19.
Mohammed, I., & Aondover, E. M. (2025). News coverage of humanitarian crisis: a study of banditry in Northwest Nigeria. In Handbook on Humanitarian Crises (pp. 209-217). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Obasi, M. C., & Msughter, A. E. (2023). Assessment of media coverage of environmental hazards in mining communities in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Environmental Challenges, 13, 100758.
Ofei, E. K., Omosotomhe, S. I., Oluwafunmilayo, O. S., Nwankwo, J. E., Musa, U. A., Adamu, F. B., Folorunsho, A. S., & Aiseosa, O. F. (2026). Digital media representation of women’s health issues in Nigeria: A study of the South-South and North-Central regions. International Journal of Scientific Research.
Ojone, J. E. (2026). Religion and the crisis of women’s political representation in Nigeria. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial.
Salami, O. S. (2026). Examining gender representation in online news media coverage of general elections. Gender, Human Development, and Economics, 3(1), 34–48. https://doi.org/10.61511/ghde.v3i1.2026.2725
Sanni, S. O. (2016). Stereotypical representation of women: A case study of Nigerian television advertisements (Master’s thesis, Eastern Mediterranean University). Eastern Mediterranean University Repository. https://i-rep.emu.edu.tr/items/22514c53-df2c-481f-a266-bf974bc3f092
Syammaella, N. F., Christantyawati, N., Prasetyo, I. J., Sugeng, D., & Sahharon, H. (2024). A multimodal study of Indonesian women’s activist representation in disaster mitigation campaigns in online media. Studies in Media and Communication.
Vitalis, P. O., Aondover, E. M., Ogunbola, O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Accessing Digital Divide and Implications in Nigeria: The Media Dimension. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 1-12.
Vitalis, P. O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Okuneye, A. P. (2023). Understanding advertising in the era of social media. Information System and Smart City, 3(1), 502-502.
Wole-Abu, N. A. (2018). Nigerian women, memories of the past and visions of the future through the communication narratives of the media. Global Media Journal, 16(31), 1–14.
Aladi, J. A., & Okoro, N. (2021). Media representation of Nigerian women in the news: Evidence from selected newspapers. Journal of International Women's Studies, 22(5), 437–452.
Aladi, J. A., & Okoro, N. (2021). Media representation of Nigerian women in the news: Evidence from selected newspapers. Journal of International Women's Studies, 22(5), 437–452. https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol22/iss5/27/
Al-Wahaibi, S. (2025). Elites’ perceptions of women’s representation in the Omani media. Frontiers in Sociology, 10, Article 1724294. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1724294
Aondover, E. M. (2024). Media Outlook of Hate Speech in the 2015 and 2019 General Elections in Nigeria. Rotura–Revista de Comunicação, Cultura e Artes, 4(1), 50-63.
Aondover, E. M., & Ademosu, I. (2025). E-learning practices of journalism education in Nigerian higher education institutions: Conceptual context and challenges. In Media and communication systems for sustainability in Nigeria (pp. 451-464). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
Aondover, E. M., & Obasi, M. (2025). Identity and the Narratives of Conflict in Nigerian Media. In Media, Conflicts and the National Security Question: Communicating (In) security in Nigeria, West Africa and the Sahel (pp. 315-334). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
Aondover, E. M., Ademosu, I., & Acheme, R. (2026). Perception of Hate Speech in the 2023 Presidential Political Campaigns on Voter Behaviour in Nigeria. Frontiers in Political Science, 8, 1750183.
Aondover, E. M., Daushe, A. U., Ogunbola, O., & Aondover, P. O. (2025). Media coverage of internally displaced persons in two selected newspapers in Nigeria. Journal of Migration and Health, 11, 100301.
Aondover, E. M., Ogri, E., Obukoadata, P., & Ogri, O. (2025). Nigerian Media Practitioners, Editorial Freedom and Owners’ Influence: The Continued Triad and Navigation of Conflicting Interests. Editorial Freedom and Owners’ Influence: The Continued Triad and Navigation of Conflicting Interests.
Aondover, E. M., Yar’Adua, S. M., & Aondover, P. O. (2025). Influence of Digital Images on the Propagation of Fake News on Twitter in Russia and Ukraine Crisis. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 59-74.
Aondover, E. M., Yusuf, N. T., & Muhammad, M. (2025). Psychological and Physical Safety of Foreign Journalists Covering Boko Haram Conflict in Borno State, Nigeria. In Navigating Trauma in African Journalism, Volume 1: Scholarly Foundations and Secondary Trauma (pp. 209-228). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
Aondover, P. O., Aondover, E. M., Adewale, O. C., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., & Maradun, L. U. (2024). Media portrayal of female celebrities in the Nigerian press. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 11(4), 346–358.
Endong, F. P. C., & Obonganwan, E. E. (2015). Media (mis)representation of the Nigerian woman as a product of the society. International Journal of Gender and Women’s Studies, 3(1), 101–106. https://doi.org/10.15640/ijgws.v3n1p10
Ette, M. (2017). Where are the women? Evaluating visibility of Nigerian female politicians in news media space. Gender, Place & Culture, 24(11), 1483–1497. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2017.1387104
Fafowora, B. L. (2020). Media construction and representation of women in political leadership positions: A study of selected news media outlets in Nigeria (Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch University). Stellenbosch University Repository. https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/109161
Ibrahim, L. Y. (2026). Role of media representation of schools’ physical education programmes in Nigeria: A systematic review. Tropical Journal of Education, 8(1), 13–20.
Maradun, L. U., & Aondover, E. M. (2025). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Towards COVID-19 Prevention Messages on Media in North-West, Nigeria. African Journalism Studies, 1-19.
Mohammed, I., & Aondover, E. M. (2025). News coverage of humanitarian crisis: a study of banditry in Northwest Nigeria. In Handbook on Humanitarian Crises (pp. 209-217). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Obasi, M. C., & Msughter, A. E. (2023). Assessment of media coverage of environmental hazards in mining communities in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Environmental Challenges, 13, 100758.
Ofei, E. K., Omosotomhe, S. I., Oluwafunmilayo, O. S., Nwankwo, J. E., Musa, U. A., Adamu, F. B., Folorunsho, A. S., & Aiseosa, O. F. (2026). Digital media representation of women’s health issues in Nigeria: A study of the South-South and North-Central regions. International Journal of Scientific Research.
Ojone, J. E. (2026). Religion and the crisis of women’s political representation in Nigeria. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial.
Salami, O. S. (2026). Examining gender representation in online news media coverage of general elections. Gender, Human Development, and Economics, 3(1), 34–48. https://doi.org/10.61511/ghde.v3i1.2026.2725
Sanni, S. O. (2016). Stereotypical representation of women: A case study of Nigerian television advertisements (Master’s thesis, Eastern Mediterranean University). Eastern Mediterranean University Repository. https://i-rep.emu.edu.tr/items/22514c53-df2c-481f-a266-bf974bc3f092
Syammaella, N. F., Christantyawati, N., Prasetyo, I. J., Sugeng, D., & Sahharon, H. (2024). A multimodal study of Indonesian women’s activist representation in disaster mitigation campaigns in online media. Studies in Media and Communication.
Vitalis, P. O., Aondover, E. M., Ogunbola, O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Accessing Digital Divide and Implications in Nigeria: The Media Dimension. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 1-12.
Vitalis, P. O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Okuneye, A. P. (2023). Understanding advertising in the era of social media. Information System and Smart City, 3(1), 502-502.
Wole-Abu, N. A. (2018). Nigerian women, memories of the past and visions of the future through the communication narratives of the media. Global Media Journal, 16(31), 1–14.