The Influence of Popular Music on Sexual Violence in Nigeria
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Date
2022
Authors
Ibitoye, Oluwatosin John
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
JCCM
Abstract
In recent times, cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) such
as rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment have risen exponentially
in Nigeria and these call for urgent attention of stakeholders and
sundry. On this backdrop, this study accesses the contribution,
influence and impacts of music to this menace with the view of
proposing a panacea to this moral decadence and inhumane culture
which has crept into our social construct. Our arguments are discussed
within the framework of Fredrickson and Robert’s Objectification
theory (1997); a framework for understanding, researching, and
intervening to improve women’s lives in a sociocultural context that
sexually objectifies the female body and equates a woman’s worth
with her body’s appearance and sexual functions. Through a critical
review and analysis of the texts of selected songs from six (6) popular
Nigerian musicians, our findings reveal the objectification of the
women gender as a tool for sexual gratification, cheap marketing
strategy, and proliferation of obscenity and immoral conducts in the
society. Having been proven that the society is a product of its music,
popular musicians therefore make the female gender vulnerable and
susceptible to the rising sexual violence scourge in our society. For this
reason, this study accentuates the need for appropriate government
regulatory bodies to step up efforts in screening and censoring every
music (audio and audiovisual) that goes into the media, with the
aim of controlling and monitoring the distribution, exhibition and
marketing of music especially that which promotes sexual content
and the stereotype of a gender as sex tool.
Description
Research Paper Published in Kenya by School of Creative and Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies, Kenyatta University
Keywords
music, gender, sexual violence, sexual objectification
Citation
Ibitoye, O. (2022). The Influence of popular music on sexual violence in Nigeria. Journal of Creative Arts, Communication and Media Studies, 1(1), 20-37. Retrieved from https://journals.ku.ac.ke/index.php/JCCM/article/view/306