1. Femininity and Sexual Violence in the Nigerian Films, Child, not Bride, October 1 and Sex for Grades
- Author
-
Oladosu, Olayinka Abdulahi
- Subjects
- African Literature, African Studies, Womens Studies, Gender Studies, Film Studies, Ethnic Studies, Sub Saharan Africa Studies, Femininity, Sexual Violence, Nigerian women, Nigerian Film, October 1, Kunle Afolayan, Sex for Grades, BBC, Child, not Bride, Child Marriage in Nigeria, Sexual violence against women in Nigeria, Julia Serano, Whipping Girl, Sexual harassment in Nigeria
- Abstract
Although sexual violence against women is rampant in Nigeria, there is a dearth of feminist studies that examine sexual violence against women in Nigerian films and at the same time answer the question continuously begging for an answer- why is sexual violence against women so rampant in Nigeria? Therefore, this thesis studies Emeka Nwabunze’s Child, not Bride, Kunle Afolayan’s October 1, and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Africa Eye documentary, Sex for Grades and argues that the prevalence of sexual violence against women in Nigeria is a consequence of incorrect notions about femininity in the nation’s culture. Julia Serano’s book, Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity and Catherine MacKinnon’s essay “Sexuality from Toward a Feminist Theory of the State” serve as the feminist methodological framework of this thesis. Serano’s work clarifies two things: 1. The possession of femininity is often used to rationalize injustices done to women and, 2. Patriarchy ensures that femininity is perceived as inferior to masculinity by imposing inferior meanings on femininity and interpreting feminine expression as consent to sexual objectification and violence. Based on the notion that human beliefs and behaviors are dictated by culture and, therefore, cannot be legitimately judged without the proper cultural context, this thesis employs Yoruba culture as a microcosm of Nigerian culture and explores Yoruba cultural notions about femininity. The social significance of this study is that it is a valuable tool for women’s rights organizations in their fight for the prevention and elimination of rape in Nigerian society.
- Published
- 2021