Sexuality in Media: Emerging Issues in Africa - Africa Regional ...

Sexuality in the Media: Emerging Issues in Africa
Female Genital Mutilation
Table 19: Frequency of Newspaper Reports on Female Genital Mutilation
Themes
Reported
Female Genital Mutilation
Themes
Reported
The Sun The Vanguard The Guardian The Punch The Comet
No. Of
Times
%
No. Of
Times
%
Newspapers
No. Of
Times
No. Of
No. Of
% %
%
Times
Times
- - - - - - - -
No. Of
Times
3 6%
Female Genital Mutilation received the attention of The Comet which gave 6%
of its publication on S/SH/SR to the issue (Comet, 27.1.04; 8.2.04; 15.2.04: 18).
The articles claim that this practice is widespread in Nigeria and has
psychological and other reproductive health consequences. It was also
described as a diabolical act (Comet: 8.2.04: 14).
Sexual Abuse Of Children
Table 20: Frequency of Newspaper Reports on Sexual Abuse of Children
The Sun The Vanguard The Guardian The Punch The Comet
No. Of
Times
%
%
Newspapers
No. Of
Times
No. Of
No. Of
% %
%
Times
Times
Sexual Abuse of children 2 2% - - - - 3 5% - -
Two papers reported on the issue of sexual abuse of children. In the reports, it
was noted that there was a rise in the incidents of sexual abuse of children
(Punch, 20.2.04: 69). In an article, a campaigner against this social ill described
it as a silent holocaust with negative consequences to the society (Sun, 30.3.04:
woman of The Sun). A Comet article (6.4.04: 30) claims that it is more prevalent
in homes where mothers are vulnerable and where the father is the perpetrator.
Apart from fathers, other perpetrators could be extended family members,
uncles, cousins, nephews, aunties, drivers, houseboys and house girls. Though
female children bear the brunt of sexual abuse, male children are sometimes
victims.
Incest
Table 21: Frequency of Newspaper Reports on Incest
Themes
Reported
Incest
Themes
Reported
The Sun The Vanguard The Guardian The Punch The Comet
No. Of
Times
- -
%
No. Of
Times
No. Of
Times
%
3 4%
Newspapers
No. Of
Times
%
No. Of
Times
%
No. Of
Times
%
- -
1 2%
- -
This is a theme which rarely came up in the print Media. However, The
Vanguard reported ‘near incestuous’ cases such as when men have sex or
impregnate stepdaughters or when stepbrothers sexually abuse their stepsisters
(Vanguard, 14.1.04: Midweek Features; 7.1.04: The Human Angle). Though
there were no reports of direct father-daughter violations or brother-sister
violations, such cases are not lacking in the Nigerian society as were recently
illustrated and discussed in a television programme titled “A-Z”. Reports on
sexual abuse of children as reported above involved family members.
Sexual Problems
The Sun The Vanguard The Guardian The Punch The Comet
No. Of
Times
%
Print Media Coverage Of Sexuality Issues in Nigeria
Table 22: Frequency of Newspaper Reports on Sexual Problems
%
Newspapers
No. Of
Times
No. Of
No. Of
% %
%
Times
Times
Sexual problems 11 10% 5 7% - - 3 5% - -
A popular theme of newspaper reports concerned sexual problems of various
dimensions. The Sun published more on this issue than any other paper devoting
10% of its publication on S/SH/SR to sexual problems. Indeed, The Guardian
did not publish anything on sexual problems. These problems were published in
the form of letters, news and articles. Problems reported included craving for
more sex, worries about the size of one’s penis, worries about the nature and
texture of breasts, headaches after sex, how to give women orgasm, the right
behaviour during sexual intercourse, inability to enjoy sex, pains during sexual
intercourse (Vanguard, 7.4.04: Features; 5.5.04: features; Punch, 5.6.04: 6).
Sexual obsession and love as uncontrollable madness (Sun, 17.1.04: 3, 15) were
also reported.