Blog Discourse and Gender Policy Agenda

This chapter explores the intersection between online activism and real-world policymaking, focusing on the interplay between digital discoursesdigital discourse and institutional approaches to gender advocacy. Specifically, it evaluates how blogs engage with the objectives of the Gender and Equal Opportunities (GEO) Bill, critically analysing how the Bill is framed and conceptualised within online discussions. While the GEO Bill is often celebrated as a transformative policy document advancing gender equality, closer scrutiny reveals notable limitations. For instance, its proposed 35% quota for women’s representation in political and socio-economic spheres falls short of achieving genuine parity. This institutional ceiling underscores the persistence of patriarchal dominance within Nigerian policy frameworks and highlights the Bill’s failure to deliver substantive justice. Paradoxically, blog discussions frequently frame the GEO Bill as a progressive and aspirational step towards gender equality. This perception illustrates how many women rally behind a policy that, while symbolising progress, inadvertently reinforces systemic inequalities by normalising restricted participation for women within democratic and socio-political structures. The chapter further argues that blog readers function as a ‘fourth estate’ within the Nigerian blogosphere, holding blog authors accountable and expanding the discourse beyond the initial frames. Their active participation adds a critical layer of dialogue, complicating representations of gender equality and the GEO Bill. By contesting oversimplified narratives, readers act as both consumers and co-creators of discourse, fostering more nuanced engagements with legislative and gender-related issues. This dynamic interaction between blog authors and readers highlights the collaborative yet contested nature of online spaces, where multiple voices collectively contribute to evolving understandings of gender equality in the Nigerian context.