You could go to a film, switch on the TV, tune in to the radio, turn the pages of a magazine, or surf online. Regardless of your choice of media, you’d have a good chance of encountering stereotypes that perpetuate gender discrimination. Women in all types of media tend to be thin and sexualized. They talk less than men. They have fewer opinions. And they are far less likely, in the entertainment industry, to play roles as leaders or professionals, or even as women who work for a living.
Research spanning more than 100 countries found that 46 per cent of news stories, in print and on radio and television, uphold gender stereotypes. Only 6 per cent highlight gender equality. Behind the scenes, men still occupy 73 per cent of top media management positions, according to another global study spanning 522 news media organizations. While women represent half of the world’s population, less than one third of all speaking characters in film are female. Cyberviolence has extended the harassment and stalking of women and girls to the online world.
WOMA recognizes the central role of media in shifting the gender stereotypes that influence how we think and act. Women and media is one of 12 critical areas of the Beijing Platform for Action, and calls on media everywhere to make a far greater contribution to women’s advancement. WOMA is working to increase the number of women in the media, including in decision-making. More should be done to present women as leaders and role models, and to abandon stereotypes. WOMA supports women’s training, adopts professional guidelines to reduce discrimination, and establishes media watch groups for monitoring as measures to move forward. Women’s involvement in information and communications technologies and media networks, including electronic networks, are also means of strengthening women’s role in democratic processes.
WOMA is working to ensure that the percentage of stories reported by women increases in most issue areas, and women are supported to be among the most active social media users. We know that Women have an equal right to participate in public debate, including in the media, and offer insights and ideas that must be heard. Everyone deserves to live free from the burden of harmful gender stereotypes. The media shapes our world—but so do women, as powerful agents of change in all areas of society. It is time for media to reflect this reality.