What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviour in which one person tries to dominate the other person. It can include physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, race or sexual orientation, and it is not just physical abuse but includes emotional and financial abuse.

Violence doesn’t have to be physical for it to be considered domestic. It occurs when someone you know has the power and control over you. You can often experience domestic violence within relationships, even if they’re not your partners, such as a family member or close friend. This is often called emotional abuse and is one of the most overlooked types because it’s not as visible as other types like physical or sexual abuse. 

The Nigerian film industry

The Nigerian film industry, known as Nollywood, has existed for over two decades. It is one of the most recognised movie industries in the world. The movies are produced in Nigerian languages, mainly Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa, but some are dubbed into English and other languages.

Nollywood could be a powerful medium to create awareness among Nigerians on domestic violence against anyone if the actors and the film promoter pay more attention to their activities.

The films can be used to teach people how to reduce domestic violence against women by showing them how the abuse affects their lives, what they can do to stop it and the consequences of not doing anything about it.

What are the consequences of Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is a serious issue affecting millions of people worldwide. It has severe consequences on the victims and their children.

Domestic violence’s consequences vary depending on the abuse type, severity, and duration. The consequences for children can include depression, anxiety, withdrawal from social activities, self-blame, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and suicide.

Domestic violence has many negative impacts on both children and adults. Victims may experience physical injuries or sexually transmitted infections due to abuse. They may also suffer from emotional trauma or mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Children who witness domestic violence are more likely to develop behavioural problems such as aggression or withdrawal from social activities.

Impact of Nollywood Movies on Domestic Violence in Society

Nollywood is a Nigerian film industry that has influenced the lives of Nigerians in various ways. One of the most significant ways is how it portrays women in society. The portrayal of women in Nollywood films and violence against them has been a topic for many years.

Nollywood is essential to Nigeria’s culture and influences people’s views and beliefs about themselves and their country.

Nigerian culture places a lot of value on women as mothers, wives, and daughters. These restrictions have led to violence against Nigerian women because they cannot exercise their rights as men do. It is time to promote gender equality.

How Do You Identify Signs of a Potentially abusive relationship?

It is essential to know the signs of an abusive relationship. It is important to understand what abuse looks like for one to take action and get help.

The following are some signs of an abusive relationship:

• Emotional abuse
• Verbal abuse
• Financial abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Physical abuse

In some movies, a woman gets beaten up by her husband for not having dinner ready for him when he comes home from work or an outing. It is not about the actresses or actors because they may not care about the effect on society, provided they make money from their role in each movie. However, the producers need to consider their viewers and how it affects their psychology and the negative impact on society. 

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is a type of abuse that is difficult to detect and can be harder to stop. It usually happens in relationships where the abuser has power and control over the victim. If a person is experiencing emotional abuse from their partner, they may feel scared, embarrassed, guilty, or ashamed. Emotional abuse can include:

• Verbal insults and put-downs.
• Negative comments about the victim’s abilities or personality.
• The humiliation leaves physical scars on the victim’s psyche and body.
• Intimidation into silence.
• Threats of physical violence.

Verbal abuse

The effects of verbal abuse are often underestimated, but it can have a significant impact on those who are subjected to it. Verbal abuse is often a precursor to physical abuse, and people who experience this treatment feel there is no way out. Both physical and verbal abuse can have adverse effects on the victim, such as Increased feelings of stress and anxiety, depression, despair, shame and low self-esteem. Chronic anger or depression. Psychological trauma, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Substance Abuse Disorders.

Financial abuse

Financial abuse can be a form of violence that can happen to anyone. It occurs when someone uses their economic power to make another person feel powerless. The abuser may cut off the victim’s access to bank accounts or credit cards or refuse to give the victim money for food and clothes. They may also manipulate things like salary or a work contract to get more money from them, making it complicated.

Sexual abuse 

Sexual abuse is a subject that is often not talked about in Nigeria. Because of the stigma attached to the topic and the fear of being ridiculed. According to Wikipedia, “in which a child is abused for the sexual gratification of an adult or older adolescent.” Nollywood movies have had an impact on how Nigerians view sexual abuse. 

The term “sexual abuse” covers a wide range of unwanted sexual activities used to control victims. . This includes sexual activities that are forced, coerced, or began when the victim could not provide consent. This term also covers unwanted sexually explicit images of victims shared without their knowledge by perpetrators who may use the images for emotional, financial or social gain.

Physical abuse

If you find yourself in a relationship that is abusive or threatening in any way, it’s important to know that there’s no shame in getting out of it. Physical abuse is not new to Nollywood movies. 

Wikipedia states, “In some countries, domestic violence may be seen as justified or legally permitted.” In Nigeria, physical abuse is a severe problem that has been with us for centuries. It was present in Nigerian society for years before Nollywood was born, and this trend continues today. Physical abuse in movies is becoming more common and needs to be urgently addressed.

Physical violence can result in injury, psychological trauma, and death. It has been associated with mental disorders, drug use, and suicide.

In conclusion, I have watched many Nigerian Nollywood movies where actors engaged in various abuses against each other in the film. Meanwhile, the viewers see them as their role models. However, psychologically, their actions in the movie negatively affect various homes. 

Domestic violence in Nollywood movies has become a norm in the movie industry. It needs to be addressed as soon as possible before destroying the psyche of our younger and unborn generations. Everything should not be about profit or personal gain alone but also values. Therefore, it should not be promoted by Nollywood producers, actors, actresses or anyone. Because of the lack of consequences, everyone does what it feels like for personal gain.

The abusers did not see any wrong in their actions. Unlike in the West, domestic violence is prohibited in society.

It is high time the censor board or government agency looks into the activities of the film producers and actors and stops any movie where the actors engage in abuse. I believe it encourages insecurity in society because of the lack of consequences. 

We cannot end abuse if we are unwilling to speak up about it and take action. We need to start by being aware of the signs of an abusive relationship so that we can identify when someone is hurting us.