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Self-Objectification vs. African Conservative Features in the Selfies of Black African Women: A Study of Nigerian Social Media Users

Self-Objectification vs. African Conservative Features in the Selfies of Black African Women: A Study of Nigerian Social Media Users

Endong Floribert Patrick Calvain
Copyright: © 2018 |Pages: 28
ISBN13: 9781522533733|ISBN10: 1522533737|EISBN13: 9781522533740
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-3373-3.ch005
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MLA

Calvain, Endong Floribert Patrick. "Self-Objectification vs. African Conservative Features in the Selfies of Black African Women: A Study of Nigerian Social Media Users." Selfies as a Mode of Social Media and Work Space Research, edited by Shalin Hai-Jew, IGI Global, 2018, pp. 103-130. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-3373-3.ch005

APA

Calvain, E. F. (2018). Self-Objectification vs. African Conservative Features in the Selfies of Black African Women: A Study of Nigerian Social Media Users. In S. Hai-Jew (Ed.), Selfies as a Mode of Social Media and Work Space Research (pp. 103-130). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-3373-3.ch005

Chicago

Calvain, Endong Floribert Patrick. "Self-Objectification vs. African Conservative Features in the Selfies of Black African Women: A Study of Nigerian Social Media Users." In Selfies as a Mode of Social Media and Work Space Research, edited by Shalin Hai-Jew, 103-130. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2018. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-3373-3.ch005

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Abstract

Though popularly construed as a universal phenomenon, selfie taking is gendered and culturally determined. This could be evidenced by the fact that the two socio-cultural forces of conservatism and traditionalism continue to tremendously shape African women's style of taking and sharing selfies on social media. Based on a content analysis of 200 selfies generated and shared by Nigerian women on Facebook and Instagram, this chapter illustrates this reality. It argues that Nigerian women are generally more conservative than liberal in their use of selfies for self-presentation, self-imaging and self-expression in public spaces. Over 59% of their selfies have conservative features. However, despite the prevalence of conservative myths and gender related stereotypes in the Nigerian society, the phenomenon of nude or objectified selfies remains a clearly notable sub-culture among Nigerian women. Over 41% of Nigerian women's selfies contain such objectification features as suggestive postures; suggestive micro-expressions and fair/excessive nudity among others.

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