The School of Political Science and Sociology research seminar: “Negotiating Nollywood: Women, intersectionality and post-feminist sensibilities”

The School of Political Science and Sociology research seminar

“Negotiating Nollywood: Women, intersectionality and post-feminist sensibilities”

Oluwatumininu Adebayo and Stacey Scriver

(Global Women’s Studies Research Cluster) 

Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry, is the second largest film industry globally based on the number of movies produced each year. Women, via their roles as actresses and more recently as producers and directors, have an opportunity to grow their careers and status within the industry and Nigerian society more generally. However, research has found that women are often relegated to stereotypical roles and are subjected to vitriol by the public in relation to their choices. While several studies have focused on female representation in Nollywood films, few have engaged directly with women in Nollywood to understand their lived experience within the film industry and fewer again have done so from an intersectional perspective. This presentation is based on interviews with female filmmakers, including actresses, directors, and producers, and aim to deepen understanding of the challenges women face in the Nollywood industry. The findings reveal that discrimination, sexual harassment, and stereotypes persist in the industry and are shaped not just by gender, but also by ethnicity and social standing. While some positive changes are occurring in Nollywood, we find that the approaches of women in negotiating the inequalities present, aligning with a post-feminist sensibility, may undermine collective action and the achievement of equality in the industry. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the intersectionality of gender and other identities in the Nollywood industry and the influence of the post-feminist sensibility on shaping women’s responses to the challenges encountered.

All Welcome!