GENDER INEQUALITY: THE PERSPECTIVE OF NIGERIAN FEMALE BROADCAST JOURNALIST

Abstract

Tackling gender disparity in the media sector is critical to achieving diversity, equality and inclusive representation. Despite various stakeholders' efforts to alleviate gender disparities, some still argue that this anomaly persist in the media sector. Built on the Gender role and the Intersectional feminist theory, this research investigates how female journalists navigate gendered power dynamics, negotiate their voices and perspectives, and confront challenges in a male-dominated profession. The study adopted survey research method using the questionnaire and interview guide as instruments for data collection. Copies of questionnaire were distributed to female broadcast journalists affiliated with African Independent Television, Alagbado Lagos, Lagos State Television, Lagos Traffic Radio, LASU Radio, Radio Nigeria Lagos, Ray Power, Metro FM. TVC Lagos and Channels TV. The findings show that majority (71.3%) of the respondents agree that men and women receive equal treatment in broadcast industry. Majority 76% reveals that men are assigned to harder assignment that their female counterparts.  64.4% and 82.2% did not believe that men are much more likely to hold administrative positions and success to grant opportunities are lower for women against men in media respectively. There are interesting twists with this finding, it is doublefaceted as majority believe that both gender receive equal treatment and they also reveals that men are assigned to harder assignment that their female counterparts. The study also reveals indications of favouritism based on tribe, religion, and class due to ownership of a media organisation in the case of privately owned stations and the people who make up the management cadre in the case of publicly owned stations. Another finding from this study is that few female journalists understand and use coping strategies on the job. Our study highlights among other things  the importance of regular gender audits to help uncover and resolve subtle types of prejudice and bias, training programs on gender sensitivity, unconscious prejudice, and inclusive leadership.