Portrayals of Socio-Structural Issues in Homosexuality by the Social Media in Nigeria: A Theoretical Discourse

Abstract

The anti-homosexual stance of the Nigerian government has provoked intense debate and threats from some parts of the West (especially the pro-homosexual parts). However, this campaign will remain a hoax if left at its current level without a deeper look at the socio-structural issues giving impetus to the growing homosexual community around the world. Thus, this paper examines the social and structural indicators of homosexuality in certain Nigeria educational institutions and the contra-cultural elements stemming from the social media. The single sex educational institutions and the unrestrained pluralization of the social media are implicit enablers of this social phenomenon. The social learning theory and the post-modernity theory aptly provide the theoretical framework for understanding the subject-matter. It argues that homosexuality, is socially learnt and a product of a post-modernizing society.