Media Frames of Gender Violence in Nigeria: A Case Study of Federal Radio Corporation South-East, Nigeria
Abstract
This study examined the phenomenon of gender based violence and the effect of mass media reportage of the incidence in South East Nigeria using Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria as a case study. How the media signpost violence against women stories or report the incident in media discourages the victims from reporting the incidents. It therefore becomes necessary to examine the sources of the news on violence against women as reported by the media, the frames as well as the frequency of such reports. The study did a survey of news and other programmes staff of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in the South East Zone, this includes all the states of the zone: Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States. The study was intended also to find out whether the victims or the police were the major source of news on gender based violence to the media.
The findings of the study show that the reports come more from the victims or their relatives rather than the police. However there have been several cases of violence against women that were not reported. In Nigeria, violence against women affects both women living in urban and rural areas. This study recommends the need for increase knowledge, challenge attitudes and to modify behaviour. Media interventions can also alter social norms and values (e.g. the belief that masculinity is associated with aggression) through public discussion and social engagement. Media campaigns have proven successful in increasing knowledge of intimate partner violence and influencing attitudes towards gender norms, but less is known about their ability to reduce violent behaviour, this should be sustained.
This study examined the phenomenon of gender based violence and the effect of mass media reportage of the incidence in South East Nigeria using Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria as a case study. How the media signpost violence against women stories or report the incident in media discourages the victims from reporting the incidents. It therefore becomes necessary to examine the sources of the news on violence against women as reported by the media, the frames as well as the frequency of such reports. The study did a survey of news and other programmes staff of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in the South East Zone, this includes all the states of the zone: Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States. The study was intended also to find out whether the victims or the police were the major source of news on gender based violence to the media.
The findings of the study show that the reports come more from the victims or their relatives rather than the police. However there have been several cases of violence against women that were not reported. In Nigeria, violence against women affects both women living in urban and rural areas. This study recommends the need for increase knowledge, challenge attitudes and to modify behaviour. Media interventions can also alter social norms and values (e.g. the belief that masculinity is associated with aggression) through public discussion and social engagement. Media campaigns have proven successful in increasing knowledge of intimate partner violence and influencing attitudes towards gender norms, but less is known about their ability to reduce violent behaviour, this should be sustained.
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