Media, Gender and Conflict in West Africa
摘要
This chapter discusses Gender, Media and Conflict within the West African sub-region. Countries of the region: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte D'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo have experienced and are still experiencing (in countries like Nigeria) conflicts of different magnitude and consequences during which women participate in different capacities, as combatants, victims, peacemaking and peacekeeping among other roles. Portraying the dynamics and involvement of women in conflict, the media is not seen to be doing very well as it still portrays women as weak and vulnerable like in other aspects of life despite the multiple jeopardy, they suffer in conflict situations. The chapter recommends among other things, that the media should be advocate of more gender-friendly policies and laws in order to protect the female gender and children by extension, during conflicts.