Gender is the roles assigned to women and men. These roles are mostly socially constructed through culture, religion, environment and tradition.
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Thank you Busi. I look forward to a fulfilling experience that will affect our society positively.
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Well said @John2.
The treatment of gender is much better than it was some four or five decades ago. We need to appreciate that fact.
But, we can still do more as families, communities, societies, countries and regional blocs. We need not rest on our oars.
There is still a lot at stake. We can still do better to balance the scale. After all when gender issues are well addressed, our world becomes much, much better.
Thank you for the retrospective dimension brought to the discussion. At least, we are reminded of how far we have come on matters relating to gender. I admire your explanation to gender, though.
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“My question is: Why is it important to take gender concerns into account in programme design and implementation? …”
You have posed an intriguing question. My answer will be that: so we get an all encompassing, inclusive ideas, such that no one is left out in any decision-making process. Everyone matters.
I often equate gender inequalities to human rights abuses. Imagine your fundamental human rights are curtailed by some person(s) who do not recognise that you exist. That must be very hurting, right? It is the same way I view gender. When women, most especially are left out, it presupposes that they do not matter. And that would not be fair.
So, to address your question, it is essential for us to consider gender in programme design and implementation because a participatory environment must ne created for all to thrive, regardless of your sex.
Thank you. 
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@imintah I agree with you that program producers must include women more often to ensure gender balance in the voices on-air, and specifically ensure that everyday issues affecting the lives of women are featured with equal prominence.
The transformative potential of radio braodcasting can also be utilized to motivate women. For instance, there are qualified female experts in almost all the academic and professional fields, but most of the expert voices invited to speak to the issues on radio are often male. Producers often wait for a “gender issue” to happen before they involve women, not realizing that our society and its issues are gendered matters and must concern women in the same way they concern men. Imagine how many girls and women could be insired by a female expert voice on radio discussing the everyday socio-economic and political issues that feature on radio.
It is within the remits of program producers and hosts to apply critical thinking techniques to find gender perspectives to the everyday issues because the issues themselves are products of a gendered society and are of equal consequences to both men and women. @Lizsati
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I thought of sharing these interesting facts about gender equality for the United Nations:
18 countries legally allow husbands to prevent their wives from working.
39 countries lack equal inheritance rights among daughters and sons.
49 countries lack laws for the protection of women from domestic violence.
750 million girls and women across the globe got married before reaching age 18.
In 30 countries, over 200 million girls and women have endured female genital mutilation (FGM).
Source: United Nations
It is important to consider these facts in light of the fact that the media or journalists are considered to be the most trustworthy and independent body that can ensure balance and equity in the society.
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My name is Gladson Makowa from Malawi. I work at Story Workshop Education Trust as Senior Projects Officer. We produce various Radio and Television programs.
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Welcome @Gladson
We are glad you have joined us and thank you for introducing yourself. What is your understanding of gender equality?
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Hi am Afia from Ghana Regional officer in charge of Woman in Agricultural Development of the Department of Agriculture. I humbled to be part of this noble platform of learned Women and Men. I have a little question to ask us all. The question is can Africa achieve Gender Equality?
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@afiaasokua…that sounds like a multi-billion-dollar question. But my answer will be that: “why not!”
Africa has come far as a continent. Tremendous strides have been made. However, there is more room for improvement. I believe you would agree with me that gender-related issues, as was treated three or four decades ago is not the same now.
Little conversations and conscious efforts from us, societies, key stakeholders and governments can make a lot of difference, and better elevate gender equality to another level.
This is my view, but what do you think?@afiaasokua.
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United Nations have a lot of work to do, it also seems their legislative instruments are limited pertaining influence on Nations. The media as mouthpiece of every nation must work assiduously with other concerned organisations to educate on the effects of gender inequality.
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Yes I agree with you, but on the other hand females or better still woman who are the victims of gender inequality should first of all liberate ourselves from our minds. We should desist from being over dependent on men and being to see ourselves as capable. I feel very uncomfortable when I hear woman say that they have to depend entirely on a man for daily bread. Am afraid we have to strive hard to get our own pizza so that with or without the bread from men we should be able to survive. Thank you
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My name is SUNGUMO DAUDA IBRAHIM Jurnalist and a reporter from Wa in the upper west region,I work with W93.5 fm am the of Agric today program at Wfm.
My view on gender equality is a situation where men and women have equal opportunity to access resources.but some times women are their own enemies,in that they don’t support their own is only lip service.
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Hi everyone,
I’m Eric Opa Doue from Liberia. My concern for the weekend: I believe Gender should be an important consideration in development. It should be a way of looking at how social norms and power structures impact on the lives and opportunities available to different groups of men and women. But globally, more women than men live in poverty, why is that so?
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Hello everyone, my name is Mariama Sowe, FRI Consultant/Radio Project Officer for the 240 DLC Sierra Leone. I had the opportunity to work with FRI last Sept. I must confess it’s a great opportunity and a learning process. I’ve been in the Media for over 11years and mainly as a broadcaster. Before joining FRI, I was the Initiative for Media Development Sierra Leone (Imdev SL). What IMdev does is quite similar to FRI because they provide capacity building for radio stations that are gender responsive. For me Gender is defined as the defined roles and responsibilities by our community for boys/girls. Women/men. Gender equality is giving people equal right irrespective of their gender. I am very happy to be here because when I hear about gender equality, I become inspired. I come from an ethnic group where in gender equality is not common. As a broadcaster, my areas of reporting were always around gender equality and women’s rights. Thank you all , looking forward to more interactions.
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Hello everyone ,
My is Edwin Mpokasye s station manager at Radio Fadhila in South- Eastern Tanzania and also I am farmers friends. Also I am a producer of ’ Agriculture is my business. I hope to learn about gender in this forum. to what I understand it gender equality is equal participation in many different sphere of life.
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Hi everyone,
My name is Abdul Nazeef Mohammed, I reside in Wa, in the upper west region of Ghana. I work with W935fm in Wa (the voice of upper west), Host programmes, also the production head of ‘Agric Today’ and other related Agric businesses etc
Most grateful to be here and hope to learn more about the topic as tendered for discussion.
Gender equality per my understanding is when people of all gender (women and men) are given the level playing field to enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society.
The access to rights or opportunities should not be affected by gender.
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Welcome @sundaco
This is quite an interesting statement, but we would like you to hold that thought and give us more detail on it next week
I am super happy to be here.
My name is Joshua Baba Madaki, a presenter of farmers program in Hausa language known as “Dandalin Manoma” (Farmers Forum) at NENZIT Community Radio, Farman in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
As a community radio presenter, i am open to learn from other presenters elsewhere due to our diverse cultural, geographical disposition. Lessons learnt and sharing experiences will enhanced my knowledge.
I am a singer, instrumentalist, i love traveling, reading and researching.
I sincerely believe there is no any dull moment with farm radio programs and certainly this will not be an exception.
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Hi everyone,
My name is Abdul Nazeef Mohammed, I reside in Wa, in the upper west region of Ghana. I work with W935fm in Wa (the voice of upper west), Host programmes, also the production head of ‘Agric Today’ and other related Agric businesses etc
Most grateful to be here and hope to learn more about the topic as tendered for discussion.
Gender equality per my understanding is when people of all gender (women and men) are given the level playing field to enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society.
The access to rights or opportunities should not be affected by gender.
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