Gender, Marriage and Patriarchal Ideologies in Nigerian Digital Discourse: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

This study critically examines gender, marriage and patriarchal ideologies in Nigerian digital discourse.  The research is anchored on Brown and Levinson’s Politeness Theory which provides a framework for analyzing how people see gender, marriage and patriarchy in today’s world. The study adopted a case study design and employed purposive sampling to select relevant data. Data were sourced through primary means by transcribing some video content on social media. Findings reveal that patriarchal ideologies continue to shape public perceptions of marriage in Nigeria by constructing men as natural leaders, providers, and decision-makers, while positioning women as submissive, dependent, and primarily responsible for domestic and reproductive roles. The study concludes that while patriarchal ideologies remain deeply entrenched in Nigerian digital discourse on marriage, they are no longer uncontested. The emergence of counter-discourses advocating equity, reciprocity, and women's agency suggests an ongoing ideological shift in public conversations about gender and marriage.