In every industry, there are situations whereby the players have a thing going for them either mutually or under compulsion and it’s no different in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
All over the world cases of sexual harassment has continued to be exposed by the victims. Many celebrities have had their names thrown to the mud because of issues.
The word “sexual harassment” has become a common phrase in Nigerian especially in the entertainment industry, whereas entertainers are meant to be part of those who correct the ills in the society.
However, drawing from the point of view that people are addressed the way they are dressed, some entertainment fans have traced the menace of sexual harassment in the industry to female entertainers.
According to them, sexual harassment is basically prompted by the dress sense of most female entertainers, noting that if these divas should learn to dress decently, sexual harassment; rape, assault among others would be avoided.
A trending sexual harassment case worldwide is that popular actor, Billy Cosby who has three women accusing him of harassing them at one point in time.
Though his wife, Camille didn’t attack her husband’s accusers, but said the media has been way to quick to pass judgment on him as“a different man has been portrayed in the media over the last two months. It is the portrait of a man I do not know.”
But that didn’t stop people from talking and wondering why would it take the women so long to come out to speak.
In Nigeria entertainment industry, there are many cases of sexual harassment. Many who did not want their names on print have explained that before a young lady gets a role to star in a movie or gets a music contracts, they are forced to have sex with them just as they said, ‘ nothing goes for nothing.’
Majority who are desperate ends up sleeping with these men while in the long run failing to bag the supposed contract.
Others who refuse to give in to their demands are not given any opportunity to showcase their talents.
According to Nollywood popular actress, Chizzy Alichi she revealed that though something like that might be happening, in her case she explained “I didn’t experience any of it since I came into the industry. Nobody has ever demanded such from me. If you are good, no one will ask of such from you.”she explained.
But in a contrary reaction, Ruthex is one of the upcoming Abuja based music acts whose videos are currently enjoying airplay. She opened up on the challenges she went through when wanting to bag a contract for her songs.
She said: “A lot of men do tell me they like my song and performances, they call me for sponsorship, but will only invite me to a hotel and start telling me nothing goes out for nothing.
“They also insisted that I should sleep with them or they can’t help again. I don’t fall for that because I believe when I keep working harder God will help me achieve my dream. They are too many I don’t want to mention names.” she added.
In her own experience Rita Oguebie (Finest Girl in Nigeria, 2014) said it’s a phenomenon that has to be curbed.
“This issue of sexual harassment is rampant in the world, a lot of female in the industry are complaining seriously. When an upcoming model, artist or actress visits a director or producers office, they mostly harass the ladies because they feel the lady wants or needs what they have to offer so they asked for sexual intercourse as exchange.
“Am advicing females to not be desperate and have confidence in themselves. We shouldn’t succumb to the advances or threats, the talent will be projected one way or the other.”
For popular musician, Gina ,”Naturally, females are treated as lesser than men, females are mostly looked at as inferior to the males which is basically due to our culture and traditions. The males will still want to overshdow.
“In respect to Sexual harass problems, I feel if a lady doesn’t put herself down, she wouldn’t be harassed or looked down on. For instance, as an artiste, when am approached by male investors or sponsors, I direct them to my management. Because I don’t want to be harassed sexual so I wouldn’t feel bad. I put myself in high esteem. ” she enthused.
Dorathy Njemanze is a popular Nollywood actress and also a campaigner for women’s rights. She said women should respect themselves first.
“Shortcut doesn’t take anybody anywhere, it doesn’t take anybody very far in life. Harassment exist mostly due to these reasons following reasons.
“My biggest issue are those people who buy roles from producers . Some also pay for equipment for producers and some even approach them personally and suggest. Now, I wonder at what point will females will start to take ourselves seriously and stop looking for quick means of being famous.
She also added that “for females that are just confronted by randy directors or producers, I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t speak out. There is no harm in exposing them, which will caution them and protect future preys from them.” she advised.
In her own experience, Benedicta Akpana (Miss Heritage Nigeria 2014) didn’t believe that talent could be bought nor sex given as a ransom to attain a feat. She used her crown as an example to show that talent must be considered before achieving in life.
“I don’t think if winners of pageants were hooked up because then I would have been hooked up right from Face of Sofa.
‘I believe that I am beautiful enough to be chosen for anything but for me not to make Face of Sofa then, it means it wasn’t hooked up, it was a challenge. Nobody has harassed me before and I don’t think you go through the challenges, you show them what you have got, what you’ve got is what they want then you are in for it. You are going to win definitely. If you think you want to use your body, you won’t win.
‘I don’t believe that what people sit at home and assume is what is really going down. If you go in there and see for yourself then you can be able to observe things and know the differences in the game.” she explained.
But with the view of fans, Oluchi Osita, a resident of Abuja who is a Nollywood fan, said it is basically the fault of the female entertainers as they are always ready to do anything to acquire fame as soon as possible.
She said “it is the fault of the female entertainers because some of them want the fame so fast that they don’t want to wait for the fame to come gradually and the best option for them is to sell themselves to the directors and they dress so horrible and nude all in the name of acting. So is the fault of female entertainers.”
Another fan, Joseph Okoh, also believe that it is the manner with which the female entertainers portray themselves what gives room for unnecessary harassment.
“Yes, it is the way they portray themselves; the way they talk in the public and the impression they give about themselves that expose them to sexual harassment” he said.
Also, Ruth Adams, a student of the University of Abuja, shared the view that indecent dressing remains a basic factor as far as sexual harassment is concerned.
According to her, “To an extent, it is the fault of the female entertainers because their dressings are always extreme considering that their foreign partners dress the way they do for certain reasons and places. Also, those who harass them do so with impunity, knowing that they can get away with it, because the victims are too ashamed to report and even when they do, little punishment is given and truly society is not too sympathetic to issues of harassment.”
Still blaming the situation on indecent dressing, Kate Aminu, a youth corper in Abuja said “to an extent it’s the fault of the female entertainers. Some of them dress in provocative ways and since men are moved by sight, they get easily attracted to ladies that don’t dress decently.”
Meanwhile, others perceived the issue of sexual harassment as a two way thing. According to them, in today’s entertainment industry, both the dudes and the divas have a common proble.
One of the observers, David Ofurom, a civil servant in Abuja said “If the eye does not see, the mind is not likely to develop a craving. So the exposure of the body has a major role to play in generating the drive to assault in the mind of the opposite sex “On the part of the assaulters, the lack of discipline to quickly replace the mental picture and thought of an indecent exposure with something positive & mentally engaging leads to the growth of the sexual image of the lady into thought, then desire, then obsession and then the action of assault result. So the fault is both ways.”
In addition, Aibe Moses, an Abuja based journalist said “I think it’s a two way thing. According to a popular saying, you are addressed the way you dress. If the female entertainers dress decently, nobody will harass them sexually.
“And at the same time, in today’s entertainment industry, sex sells, music videos and movies are all enveloped in Sexual fantasy, the idea of great sex and they give the fans that impression and the fans don’t know they are entertainers, it’s a belief, and it is what they are paid to do. The male counterparts should learn to separate reality from make belief. And self-control is the watchword.”
However, Chizoba Amos argued that sexual harassment is beyond physical attraction. According to her, “Any guy that rapes a woman is sick and needs help. Either psychiatric or spiritual help may be both. If men can rape mad women, imbeciles, infants and even their own daughters then whatever is driving or pushing them is beyond physical attraction.
“If I may ask, why are the women not raping the men? You know that where there is a will, there is a way. Even the physiology of men can be overcome with medical science if a woman wanted it as badly as these men that rape women do. And it is not as if some men don’t take delight in showing off their muscles and all and some women really get turned on by stuff like that. They don’t rape such men rather they usually resort to seducing them at the most and seduction takes mutual consent.”
Considering whether the act is also a factor in broken marriages and non-getting married among entertainers, Adams said sexual harassment has nothing to do with marriage. According to her, I have not heard of any case of broken marriage in the industry as result of sexual harassment or that an entertainer has not gotten married due to sexual harassment. I think the issue of broken marriages in the industry would rather be linked to pride, fame and deceit.
With the mixed reactions, it is certainly worthy of note that many female artistes have been in one way or the other harassed and it’s left for them to do the right thing.
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