Week One - Introduction to discussion on gender

Gender
#41

This is an interesting angle to the topic, Erita. But, I keep asking always…who assign these concepts/roles (masculinity and femininity), and what is the basis for such classification to women and men. It is an area we all need to interrogate.

How justifiable are roles assigned? And more often than not, one would realise that the table tilts against girls and women. Why the suppression? Why not a level playing field for all to develop and thrive? I believe forums like this, serve as the rallying point to cause change.

And I would not be surprised if we all become agents of change after this Gender session.

Thank you.

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#42

Hi member of this platform first in all am Happy to join with you.
Gender refer to the relationship between men and women in society which arise out of the roles they play.such roles are socially constructed and not physically or biologically determined.

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Week 3: All about gender and interviews
#43

@imintah Thank you. I look forward to sharing ideas with you about how we can use radio to promote gender equality. I’d also like to hear what you think about gender equality.

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#44

@Erita journalists (media) has a responsibility to promote equality and social justice – fight all forms of discrimination and amplify the voices that have been oppressed or silenced.

Given that many cultures accross the globe are still struggling to achieve gender equality, and given that many cultural structures are imbued with patrriachal ideologies that normalize discrimination against women, is this not an apparent situation calling for journalists to fight the gender discrimination? I am sure we will give a detailed treatment to this discussion in the coming days.
Looking forward to hearing what you think @Erita @imintah

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#45

Welcome aboard @Denis!

I pray authorities in Zimbabwe will do the needful to liberalise the media landscape in your country. It is only through a vibrant and advisedly boisterous media space that issues of gender can have the attention and meaning that we all want.

Your perspectives to gender equality is insightful, and I look forward to having interesting discussions around other topics.

Cheers!:clinking_glasses:

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#46

@somedshahadu,

I think you have made a very strong point in averting our minds to a determining factor(s) of discrimination and oppression against women. And you hit the nail right on the head. Culture, social norms, religion and even our environment always come up strongly as being the leading determinants of assigned roles and power dynamics relating to gender.

I perfectly agree with you that the media and journalists have a crucial role to play in changing the narrative. We need interventions from all angles (government policies, change in cultural norms and religious practices), but the media can spearhead all of these and drive the change.

Duty bearers have to be pushed to the brim to act, and the bus stops at the media. How can we (journalists) incorporate gender in our programming to reflect balance and equality? How should we frame our stories in the light of gender? I guess there is a lot for us to pick here, and I again look forward to the different perspectives and how best alternative ideas could be situated in every context.

Thank you.:pray:

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#47

Hi to u all my name is Anna am programm manager Redio Sengerema Fm in Mwanza region Tanzania.
In short Gender means is how women and men are prescribed and expected to think and act because of the way society is organized,not because of biological differences.

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#48

Hello @Lizsati

Welcome to our discussion platform. We are delighted to have you here and believe you will also learn a thing or two through sharing experiences.

I like your understanding of gender equality - the level ground

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#49

Good morning fellows,
My name is Eric Opa Doue, from Liberia.
This morning I would like to share my thoughts on roots of Gender cultural norms: I believe that Gender cultural norms such as emotional expression and communication styles are both learned in childhood through interactions with family members and friends. … Women tend to place a greater value towards these skills emphasizing the importance of communication that expresses feelings and emotions.

My question is what can we do as media workers to ensure that Gender mainstreaming takes roots in the African Families?

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#50

@Erita,

Thank you for bringing this question. From my standpoint, Gender Mainstreaming relative to the media or journalists and their work is making gender-related issues the normal and routine subject matters covered in the media. It is also, making gender the norm in media houses themselves.

This means that on a regular basis, journalists make conscious efforts to include gender in the newsroom and other programmes for broadcast (radio and TV).

In my opinion, this could be achieved through the following;

  1. Creating balance in management and leadership roles in media houses — in my opinion — is the starting point to mainstreaming gender. What is the ratio of women to men representation in the management structure of newspapers, radio and television stations? Are there enough women editors, producers and programme heads? Once there is some form of equality, coverage of issues naturally becomes balanced. I anticipate so, because the perspectives of a female news editor and that of a male news editor, on how an issue should be covered, would certainly be different. Power dynamics; leadership roles and decision-making must start from within the media before gender equality and mainstreaming could be guaranteed.

  2. Again, creating balance even for TV anchors or presenters is one essential way of achieving gender mainstreaming, and same applies to radio. In the print media, balance could be created in assigning reporters to cover events or follow-up on beats. The perspectives of a female reporter would be different from that of a male reporter — just as was highlighted in the editors example above.

The point is to have reporters cover stories from different perspectives. If it is only male reporters covering certain events, it makes reportage one-sided. In the same vein, if certain events become a reserve for female reporters, it becomes one-sided. Assessing the strengths of reporters before covering assignments is what ultimately drives editors to settle on a particular journalist to get the job done, but making the effort to gender balance roles in the newsroom should not be missed.

  1. In carrying out interviews on subject matters, do journalists ensure that there is balance? Featuring guests on TV or radio — in considering gender mainstreaming — requires that there is a blend of women and men. Why do guests who appear in TV and radio to discuss political and economic issues are mostly men? Can producers bring women on board? A deliberate attempt should be made to ensure that women with expertise in these areas are featured to analyse issues from their perspectives.

For print media, same principle could be applied in getting women with expertise in certain fields to speak and analyse issues, instead of men-subject-matter-specialists only.

My take! I would love to hear the thoughts of @somedshahadu and other media persons here on this subject matter. :pray:

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#51

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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#52

Thank you Busi. I look forward to a fulfilling experience that will affect our society positively.

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#53

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.:+1::clap:

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#54

“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. :sunglasses:

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#55

@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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#56

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.

@CHRISTABEL @Erita

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#57

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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#58

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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#59

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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#60

@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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