Research conducted by the development Research Projects Center, (dRPC), in partnership with Advancing Learning and Innovation in Gender Norms, (ALiGN), has revealed biased narrative against women in appointive and elective positions by the media.
Presenting the research findings yesterday in Abuja, Senior Gender Adviser, dRPC, Dr. Plangsat Dayil, said the media, often seen as a reflection of the society is very strategic in changing the perception of the public has been found to encourage culturally engrained gender norms bias narratives of women in appointive positions as against their male counterparts in Nigeria.
She said findings from the national level research reveal negative sensationalized and judgemental media portrayal of women in appointive positions and demonstrate how how such media narratives can shape public perceptions and political discourse.
“We did basically a textual analysis of media reportage around women in elective and appointive positions not necessarily about the reason women were sacked in these positions and that’s why our recommendation are based around how we can change these narratives to ensure that the narratives are done the way they do for the male, same should be done for the female in this position,” she said.
Speaking on the NIPPS Gender and Public Policy Center, Director oglf Studies, NIPPS, and Chairperson African Women Leaders Network, Professor Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam, said the Center aims to bring the much needed change in the narrative in the country
According to her, “The whole idea, (about the Center), is to bridge the well noticed gap and that gap is twofold; number one is the capacity and skills gap in terms of gender mainstreaming bringing about an integration of gender concerns, gender perspectives into the whole gamut of public policy and development intervention.
“On the other side is the issue of policy output and policy update.”
On his part, Chairman Civil Society Network, Ambassador Ahmed Shehu, said “the essence of the research is to identify issues and investigate further with a view to coming up with some key recommendations on how to influence issues especially changing the narrative.
He said “In every sector, you find out that women are at the receiving end even in conflict situations. It asks the question why do the women find it difficult to deliver or to sustain political positions.”
National President of the National Council for Women’s Societies, (NCWS), Hajiya Lami Adamu-Lau, said the research echoes the heart of Nigerian women towards inclusion.
Represented by Dr. Ujeoma Udensi, National Research Coordinator, NCWS, she said “We all know and agree that diversity, equity and inclusion is the real goal and the basic development standard for developed societies and should be our standard if we want balanced national development.”
