UNORTHODOX SEXUALITY THEMES OF SOME CHILDREN’S TELEVISION CARTOONS AND THE AFRICAN CULTURE
Abstract:Same-sex relationships are now lawful in
Western countries, while it remains a taboo and a crime in Africa. Whereas
studies have established television as a powerful agent of cultural diffusion,
Africa now receives 24-hour broadcasts of same-sex television contents from the
West, including children’s television cartoons. Therefore, this study
investigated the perception and implication of that trend in Nickelodeon,
Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network satellite television channels amongst the
numerous channels available. Cultivation and agenda-setting theories constitute
theoretical framework, while the study adopted descriptive survey and
questionnaire as research method and instrument respectively. From a population
of study comprising adults having parental or guardianship control over
underage children in Lagos, the study drew 200 respondents. Findings revealed
that respondents perceived introduction of unorthodox sexuality themes in
children’s cartoons as detrimental to the development of children and culture
in Nigeria. The study recommended that government should increase efforts in
monitoring and regulating television contents produced and accessible to
children in Nigeria.