ABIA RESIDENTS' PERCEPTION OF THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN NOLLYWOOD FILMS

This study was conducted to evaluate and ascertain Abia residents’ perception of the representation of women in Nollywood films. Using the survey research method the researcher sought the opinions of residents in Abia state regarding how they perceive the representation of women in Nollywood films. Using the survey research method, the researcher sought the opinions of residents in Abia state regarding how they perceive the representation of women in Nollywood films. The Cultivation Theory and The Reinforcement Theory of mass communication served as a theoretical framework for the study. The population of the study was 4,382,658 out of which a total of 400 residents of Abia State were sampled. The questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The data gathered for the study were analyzed and the study found out that the overall representation of women as depicted in Nollywood films and perceived by Abia residents’ is that of a weak, inferior, wicked, disrespectful and sexual objects. It was also revealed that Abia residents to a high extent perceived that Nollywood films should offer an opportunity to construct positive perceptions and deconstruct negative perceptions about women in society by not over-exaggerating the negative roles of women as prostitutes, mere house wives, lustful, weak and inferior. Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that this study concludes based on the findings of the study that instead of film writers and Nollywood film directors representing women as weak, inferior, wicked, disrespectful and sexual objects, wicked and disrespectful based on their own perspective of the society, women should be portrayed as strong enough to occupy positions of authorities same way their male counterparts are portrayed. The researcher therefore recommends that film writers and Nollywood film directors should discontinue from representing the image of women based on their own perspective of the society and that the representations of women in Nollywood films should influence the portrayal of women in the society because it to a great extent would help reduce the perception of people regarding gender stereotypes in the society.