Women are discriminated against religiously, politically, culturally and socially in Nigeria. In elective and appointive political positions, women’s participation is less than 7% nationally, far 59 below 22.5% of the global average and 23.4% of the regional average (Aina-Pelemo, 2021). Also, some cultures still practice female genital mutilation (FGM) and indulge in barbaric cultures where girls are born for the sole purpose of using them to repay debt. Yet, the media has been complicit in propagating misogynistic and patriarchal narratives that have subjugated women for many years and demonised the gender equality movement.
“It sickens to see that many women today just engage in this mass of inexplicable oddity, and they tag it feminism. Our Nigerian ladies want to tailor their feminism on the premise of ‘I can’t be a slave to any man. After you are done eating, wash your plate, and I will wash mine; if you cannot wash my pants, I cannot wash your boxer. If you are not ready to clean up for your baby, then let’s not bother giving birth. How do these absurdities fit into the philosophical foundation of feminism?” One of Nigeria’s most prominent media platforms, The Cable, published on their platform on August 31, 2017; The story written by Babajide Adeokin is titled “Pro-women to anti-men movement: Nigerian wave of feminism”
Several researches have also revealed how media are created by men for the consumption of men. However, with the growth of incel culture, it is time the media steps up and undo it. Naija Feminists, therefore, leverages technological and journalistic tools to expose misogyny, improve African feminists’ representation, and empower women.
Our Journey
Naija Feminists is a platform founded in 2021, mainly based on social media. In 2024, it expanded to become an organised body representing the interests of women’s liberation through mass media in a way uninfluenced by profitability and propaganda.