Summary
This article starts by discussing the types of media where you would encounter stereotypes and gender discrimination. These types of media include movies, television shows, radio, magazines, and social media online. The use of stereotypes and gender discrimination in media are literally everywhere you look.
Typical Stereotypes
“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.” (UN Women, n.d.)
Research
Several research studies were done on how women are portrayed in the media; it was done in more than 100 countries! It found that 46% of news stories (printed newspapers, radio, and television) have gender stereotypes in them. It was found that 6% have gender equality included in them. Also, in this research, it was found that men have 73% of the time in top media management positions across 522 news media organizations. Even in films, women have 1/3 of the speaking characters. Finally, many women and girls experience harassment and stalking.
How the UN is taking steps to solve this problem
189 UN member states have acknowledged that media needs to shift gender stereotypes because they affect how people think and act. In the Beijing Platform for Action, they made women and media 1 of their 12 critical areas. They called on media from everywhere to contribute more to women’s advancement. The conclusion that they agreed on is that women need to be represented more especially when making decisions. Women should be represented more as leaders and role models in society. Solutions for the workplace include more training and establishing guidelines and rules in the workplace.
Progress since the Beijing conference
Stories being reported by women have increased, women are participating in public debates, and women are encouraged to share their opinions and ideas. “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.” (UN Women)
References
UN Women. (n.d.). Women
and the media. UN Women – Beijing+20. Retrieved March 30, 2022, from
https://beijing20.unwomen.org/en/in-focus/media#:~:text=Women%20in%20all%20types%20of,who%20work%20for%20a%20living.
Hi Zoe! I was shocked when I read the percentage of stereotypes that appear in different media types. Of course I knew about these stereotypes that often are in media but I did not know that it is such a huge number. However, I think that it is definitely getting better but there is still a lot of media portrayals that are stereotypical.It is also sad that many people think that media stereotypical portrayals are reality and act in the same way in their jobs, homes and so on.
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe, I really enjoyed reading your blog. I think that the percentage of men taking care of media management should reduce, because this leads to stereotypes of women in any kind of media. Men don't understand what women go through because all that they want to see is a perfect looking woman. Advertising these stereotypes is not a solution for other women, it can make them feel even worse because they would want to look like that stereotype and feel miserable because they don't.
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