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Measuring Gender Sensitivity in Media Laura Kennedy UNESCO Almaty. Goal of Presentation. Generate discussion regarding gender sensitivity in media (especially in preparation for Day 2 work) Share some of the measures that have recently been developed by UNESCO
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Measuring Gender Sensitivity in Media Laura Kennedy UNESCO Almaty
Goal of Presentation • Generate discussion regarding gender sensitivity in media (especially in preparation for Day 2 work) • Share some of the measures that have recently been developed by UNESCO • Stimulate ideas for recommendations on promoting gender sensitive media
Gender in the Almaty Declaration (1992) • Says very little about gender • One Reference: • Recommends training on the rights of women in the media
The Toronto Platform for Action (1995) • Adopted by the 28th Session of the UNESCO General Conference, 1995 • Calls for greater access to and participation in media by women at all levels, including management and ownership • Adopt broad-based gender sensitivity measures including training for managers and officials, gender sensitive editorial and employment policies • Acknowledge women as newsmakers, authoritative information sources and experts on issues • Foster education, networking and cooperation
What Progress? • “Men hold the vast majority of the seats on governing boards (74.1%) and in top management 72.7%) across seven regions. Global Report on the Status of Women in the News Media, 2011 • “76% of the people heard or read about in the world’s news are male. The world seen in news media remains largely a male one.” Who Makes the News, Global Media Monitoring Project, 2010
Media Pluralism, Diversity • Of Structures • Ownership, Institutions • Of Employees • Editors, Writers, Broadcasters • Of Content • What gets written, broadcasted • Of Choices for Audience • What’s available/on and when
Media Pluralism, Gender Aspect • Of Structures • Women in media ownership, on institutions • Of Employees • Women as Editors, Writers, Broadcasters on all kinds of content, not just on “women’s issues” • Of Content • What gets written about women and men, broadcasted, topics, how women and men are portrayed • Of Choices for Audience • What’s available/on when, i.e., are gender issues relegated to back pages or off hours?
Gender Sensitive Indicators for Media (GSIM)(International Programme for Development of Communication 2012) • Rationale • Media development intersects with women’s empowerment, to the extent that: • Part of culture and society (even social actors) • In most places media impacts nearly every aspect of society • Media as a tool to further social development • News media remain the primary source of information for people • Explosion of media have brought new sources of information and new impetus to women’s empowerment movement, as well as to other groups (vulnerable, marginalized) • Allows for measurement and monitoring progress
Gender Sensitive Indicators for Media (GSIM)(International Programme for Development of Communication 2012) A) Actions to foster gender equality within media organizations • Gender balance at decision-making level • Gender equality in work and working conditions • Gender equality in unions, associations, clubs, organizations of journalists, other media professionals and media self-regulatory bodies • Media organizations promote ethical codes and policies for gender equality in media content • Gender balance in education and training
Gender Sensitive Indicators for Media (GSIM)(International Programme for Development of Communication 2012) B) Gender portrayal in media content • News & current affairs • Gender consciousness in different types of content, all subject areas and content categories/sections • Accurate understanding of gender-based violence in all its forms as an internationally recognized violation of human rights (ref. UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, 1993) - refers to sensitive coverage of gender based violence.
Gender Sensitive Indicators for Media (GSIM)(International Programme for Development of Communication 2012) • Advertising • Fair portrayal of women and men in commercial messages in the media (proportion, voiceovers, appearance, vocations, depictions of sexuality) • Identification of gender-based stereotypes in commercial messages in media (normal and inevitable)
For Further Thought… • Parity does not necessarily mean equality. • Need to look deeper at roles, portrayal, position of content (in print or time of day) • Presence of female ownership/management does not guarantee gender sensitive content • Balance – female dominated is also cause for concern • Content needs to reflect and engage both women and men • Gender differences between different language media