Women’s voice, agency and resistance in Nigerian blogs: A feminist critical discourse analysis

ABSTRACT

This paper contributes to the burgeoning literature on how women construct resistance, project their agency and sculpt a positive identity for themselves. It employs feminist critical discourse analysis as a framework to examine how Nigerian blogs on gender issues constitute a discursive site for sociopolitical action, the interrogation and deconstruction of gendered social structures and the amplification of women’s voices(s). The article analyzes discursive strategies used in the blogposts to resist gender inequality, women’s exploitation and female subjugation while constructing a positive image for women and emphasizing their empowerment. The results reveal three main strategies: (1) denouncing patriarchy and gender discrimination, (2) countering toxic gender narratives and (3) calling out sexist attitudes and praising women who resist such behaviour. Together, these mechanisms contribute to a sociopolitical critique of systematic gendering of privilege aimed at social transformation and Nigerian/African women’s emancipation. Implications of the study for research on marginalized, disenfranchised groups are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Nigerian women
• women’s empowerment
• feminist critical discourse analysis
• emancipatory and resistance discourses
• discursive strategy

Acknowledgments

I sincerely thank two anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments on an earlier version of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mark Nartey

Mark Nartey is Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics at the School of Arts, University of the West of England. He is an interdisciplinary scholar who investigates semiotic phenomena at the intersection of language, culture and society. He has published extensively in applied linguistics, discourse analysis and communication/media studies. His recent publications include a monograph on political myth-making, nationalist resistance and populist performance and an edited volume on emancipatory discourse both published by Routledge.