The media plays a critical role in shaping public opinion on current and emerging issues. Both the framing of stories and the voices chosen to deliver those stories influence the perceptions held by the audience. Therefore, systemic gender inequality is exacerbated when women’s voices are denied equal attention or are limited to traditionally ‘feminine topics’ (e.g., childcare, education, etc.).
Evidence shows that women’s representation in the media is far from equitable. While women make up half the population, a recent report from AKAS and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation shows that women comprise 39% of journalists and just 26% of journalism leadership globally.
The dearth of female representation is particularly alarming in South Asia. In India, for example, research supported by UN Women revealed that from October 2018 to March 2019 only 22.4 percent of English-speaking TV news panelists and only 11 percent of Hindi-speaking TV news panelists were women. According to the a 2020 report from the South Asia Women’s Network, women hold only 10 percent of media leadership positions in Pakistan and only 12 percent of those in Nepal.
Amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, women experts have not been consulted by media outlets as often as have their male counterparts, and inadequate attention has been paid to the impact of the pandemic on women, in particular. According to The Washington Post, “In coverage of the coronavirus, female scientists and doctors are cited far less frequently than their male counterparts.”
This session from the 2020 Women Leaders in Global Health Conference features five prominent media personalities from South Asia. Each discusses her own professional journey in journalism, their experiences bringing women’s stories to the fore, and the importance of equal representation in all aspects of media coverage.
This panel features Anubha Bhonsle, Editor, NewsWorthy, Shaili Chopra, Founder, SheThePeople.TV, Munizae Jahangir, Journalist & Editor in Chief, Voicepk.net, Pakistan’s First Digital Media Platform for Human Rights, Jaya Luitnel, President and CEO, The Story Kitchen, and moderator, Sapna Kedia, Technical Specialist, International Center for Research on Women – Asia.
Here are three things we learned:
Ensure women help shape stories pertaining to women. As Munizae Jahangir shares, “When women talk about women’s issues, they don’t just depict the woman as a victim. There is a broader story around women – she is a full picture.” Women reporters have shared experiences and sensitivities that make them more likely to go beyond a one-dimensional portrayal of women and explore their stories from a holistic point of view. When it comes to health, where women are deeply impacted, Jaya Luintel emphasizes that women should be part of the coverage. “Women are at the front lines of health services. The most vulnerable and the most traumatized are women….women should be leading the conversation.”
Go beyond gender equity to ensure gender inclusivity in newsrooms. Although achieving gender equality in newsrooms is critical, there is more to the story. “A mere seat at the table is not enough,” says Anubha Bhonsle. She points out that women leaders are not always included equally in informal discussions where decisions are often made, such as when men meet over drinks after work. We must ensure that inclusive workplace cultures are being fostered and that networks are built with women. She also believes the onus does not lie on women alone. “Men must be a part of the conversation.”
Include women experts in all stories and conversations. Shaili Chopra notes how often panels (or ‘manels’) do not include women experts. “We need to bring a balance of experts when it comes to gender or intersectionality in coverage and conversations,” she says. “I believe there should be a list of academics printed and pasted outside every media house who are women.” She states, “The idea of adding a female voice isn’t meant to be tokenism…these women shouldn’t be included because they are women…they are mathematicians…they are scientists…they have a role to play.”
Watch the full session here:
