The Role of Online Comedy Skits in the Sexual Objectification of Women in Nigeria

Recently, online comedy skit creators have become celebrities and influencers in Nigeria, amassing millions of followers on various social media platforms. The influence of these influencers on their followers and society can be harmful when negative messages like sexual objectification of women are propagated. Using a mixed methods approach, this study examines the role that comedy skits play in the promotion of female sexual objectification in Nigeria. The study examines YouTube video content from six (6) major comedy skits makers. The results indicate that all six (6) of the major online skit comedy makers analysed in the study use various elements of sexual objectification such as sexual language, sex appeal, male gaze, and sexualization in their YouTube videos. This finding has implications for women and girls in Nigeria as well as the world since media’s portrayal of women as sexual objects have been linked to global violence against women and girls.