Gender Dynamics in Online Religious Leadership in Nigeria: Investigating How Digital Platforms Shape Communication, Authority, and Influence
This study explored the role of digital platforms in shaping gender dynamics within Christian religious leadership in Nigeria. Historically, religious leadership in Nigerian Christianity has been predominantly male-dominated, with women often relegated to subordinate roles despite their significant...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/1/5 |
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| author | Bukola L. Oloba Anne M. Blankenship |
| author_facet | Bukola L. Oloba Anne M. Blankenship |
| author_sort | Bukola L. Oloba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explored the role of digital platforms in shaping gender dynamics within Christian religious leadership in Nigeria. Historically, religious leadership in Nigerian Christianity has been predominantly male-dominated, with women often relegated to subordinate roles despite their significant contributions as preachers, healers, and founders. The advent of digital platforms has introduced a new paradigm, offering both male and female leaders with avenues to expand their communication, authority, and influence. Utilizing mediatization theory, this research investigated how online spaces allow women to bypass traditional patriarchal structures, engage broader audiences, and influence religious narratives. Through in-depth interviews with twenty religious leaders across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and comment analysis from online community interactions, the study identified eight main themes that reveal the complex interactions between gender, authority, and influence in both digital and offline contexts. The findings suggest that while digital platforms provide women with increased visibility and opportunities, male leaders retain a higher level of authority and reach, even in online spaces. The study highlights the dual nature of digital media as both liberating and limiting for female leaders, presenting an environment where empowerment coexists with persistent gendered expectations. This research contributes to understanding how digital platforms impact gendered access to religious authority, revealing the ongoing struggle for gender equality within Christian leadership in Nigeria. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-61af52adf9ca420c9ffdb9f64207de5c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-61af52adf9ca420c9ffdb9f64207de5c2025-01-24T13:47:12ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442024-12-01161510.3390/rel16010005Gender Dynamics in Online Religious Leadership in Nigeria: Investigating How Digital Platforms Shape Communication, Authority, and InfluenceBukola L. Oloba0Anne M. Blankenship1Department of Communication, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USADepartment of History, Philosophy & Religious Studies, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USAThis study explored the role of digital platforms in shaping gender dynamics within Christian religious leadership in Nigeria. Historically, religious leadership in Nigerian Christianity has been predominantly male-dominated, with women often relegated to subordinate roles despite their significant contributions as preachers, healers, and founders. The advent of digital platforms has introduced a new paradigm, offering both male and female leaders with avenues to expand their communication, authority, and influence. Utilizing mediatization theory, this research investigated how online spaces allow women to bypass traditional patriarchal structures, engage broader audiences, and influence religious narratives. Through in-depth interviews with twenty religious leaders across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and comment analysis from online community interactions, the study identified eight main themes that reveal the complex interactions between gender, authority, and influence in both digital and offline contexts. The findings suggest that while digital platforms provide women with increased visibility and opportunities, male leaders retain a higher level of authority and reach, even in online spaces. The study highlights the dual nature of digital media as both liberating and limiting for female leaders, presenting an environment where empowerment coexists with persistent gendered expectations. This research contributes to understanding how digital platforms impact gendered access to religious authority, revealing the ongoing struggle for gender equality within Christian leadership in Nigeria.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/1/5gender dynamicsreligious leadershipdigital platformsNigeriaChristian leadershiponline religious communities |
| spellingShingle | Bukola L. Oloba Anne M. Blankenship Gender Dynamics in Online Religious Leadership in Nigeria: Investigating How Digital Platforms Shape Communication, Authority, and Influence Religions gender dynamics religious leadership digital platforms Nigeria Christian leadership online religious communities |
| title | Gender Dynamics in Online Religious Leadership in Nigeria: Investigating How Digital Platforms Shape Communication, Authority, and Influence |
| title_full | Gender Dynamics in Online Religious Leadership in Nigeria: Investigating How Digital Platforms Shape Communication, Authority, and Influence |
| title_fullStr | Gender Dynamics in Online Religious Leadership in Nigeria: Investigating How Digital Platforms Shape Communication, Authority, and Influence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender Dynamics in Online Religious Leadership in Nigeria: Investigating How Digital Platforms Shape Communication, Authority, and Influence |
| title_short | Gender Dynamics in Online Religious Leadership in Nigeria: Investigating How Digital Platforms Shape Communication, Authority, and Influence |
| title_sort | gender dynamics in online religious leadership in nigeria investigating how digital platforms shape communication authority and influence |
| topic | gender dynamics religious leadership digital platforms Nigeria Christian leadership online religious communities |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/1/5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bukolaloloba genderdynamicsinonlinereligiousleadershipinnigeriainvestigatinghowdigitalplatformsshapecommunicationauthorityandinfluence AT annemblankenship genderdynamicsinonlinereligiousleadershipinnigeriainvestigatinghowdigitalplatformsshapecommunicationauthorityandinfluence |