It is obvious with our station that gender is equally observed in programming and it is up to the producers and presenters to strife in ensuring that is adhered to. I personally host shows in which guests are invited but to have a balanced discussion I have to have a female and a male guest if at all am hosting two. However if for example am hosting one guest who is male this week then the following week it has to a female guest to ensure gender equality.
Though I get challenged from the field while collecting material because many rural women suffer low esteem and failure to express themselves in an official language, I encourage them to speak and sometimes I have had to hire an interpreter. But apart from doing it for gender equality, It is interesting however to discover that they actually are the ones with the most important information.
In my show I provide feed back to the listeners by allowing in calls and both gender and particularly women are encouraged to participate on the topic. This I do by separating the time and telephone lines for women and men differently without one interfering the other.
But generally to address the issue of gender equality lies majorly on how one designs their programs. I particularly select captivating topics, topics that are engaging and that do generate debate across the board irrespective of one’s gender and they will all find themselves included.
Those are just a few of the ways on how I address gender equality in my programming.
I am sorry however for making my contributions late.
I am sharing some contributions from the French discussion:
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We learned from the discussions that women are well involved in the administration of radio stations but also in the hosting of programs. However, there are still obstacles to the true development of women in radio and especially to the efficient application of the principles of gender equality in programming.
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media women feel self-conscious in front of their male colleagues but also, few are the women with an ideal performance. So when the suggestions are addressed to them, they take them for pressure exerted on them, or has discrimination based on gender;
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the less educated rural broadcasters find it difficult to approach educated women and men in their programs, interviews, reports, especially in foreign languages (French and English). However, this complex diminishes as they gain experience in interactivity;
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when we do vox pop or micro-sidewalk for example, few women express themselves. They tend to shy away from the microphone compared to men. They refuse to speak out even if the subject concerns them, believing that it is the responsibility of men, yet often they have much more to say than men. This would be due to a lack of self-confidence, an inferiority complex that has been passed down from generation to generation;
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magazines and microprograms are regularly broadcast on the antennae to encourage women in towns and villages to trust each other, initiate income-generating activities to promote their own development;
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one of the major challenges is the lack of sponsorship and the manpower to meet the requirements for the preparation of good shows that promote equality;
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women sometimes reproduce gender stereotypes in the programs they present;
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women’s rights collide with the will of each group of people to jealously defend their culture because this is what belongs to them and it is in this that they recognize themselves;
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the question of gender arises even at the level of communication (radio) when it comes to debates relating to gender-based violence (GBV). Some listeners accuse broadcasters of wanting to distort the thinking of their daughters and wives, radio sometimes serving as a tool to denounce cases of Gender-Based Violence;
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our society is made so that our women feel like `` the most vulnerable ‘’ at the bottom of the ladder and that we have to pamper them, have pity for them, that they are unable to take good care decisions. And unfortunately they find themselves locked in these ideologies which facilitate bullying;
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the on-air program for the broadcast and presentation sections of the newspapers is much more violated by women who are absent a lot without notice due to illnesses and other impediments. Women are able to take on certain tasks better than men in the media. However, they are often unavailable and show a lot of unforeseen events that affect work negatively;
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The barriers to gender equality vary from country to country depending on the culture.
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Many proposed solutions were also shared this week, in response to our question on how to prepare for a radio show that addresses gender equality: *
REACTIONS
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maybe we need to adopt another way of approaching women to get them to participate. It can be done face to face. Because they feel frustrated when these criticisms are made in groups. They should also be made to understand that no one is perfect and that the suggestions you make help to strengthen their capacities. We must in any case use tact to get them to understand. And all of this should be done with courtesy, since these are adults;
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the preparation must involve women much more, supported by experienced feminists. Give much more priority to educational and interactive debates and talks broadcast either live or recorded on our channels;
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think of discussion groups where some women speak, even in local languages (even if it means doing a ‘’ voice-over ‘’ interpretation or voice dubbing in French - if the program is in French). They will be more confident when the first participants will hear each other on the radio, others will want to speak as well;
Mariama: Thank you @Busi N for the summary
Dokurugu Alhassan: It’s helpful
Christian: Busi! You are simply the best! Cheers:cocktail:
Somed: As @Busi N mentioned, it has been a wonderful week sharing ideas on how to design and deliver transformative gender equality radio programs. Gender transformative radio programs increase awareness on unequal gender norms and assess both social and economic costs related to the compliance with these norms. Gender-transformative radio programs recognize that equality is a relational concept, and that it is difficult to change male norms without changing female norms. The objective of transformative interventions in gender equality is to modify unequal relations between men and women to promote knowledge sharing, control of resources, decision-making, and support women in their empowerment.
Looking forward to reading from you all next week.
Thank you.
Somed.
Joshua Baba Madaki: What an awesome submissions.
This truly affords me the privilege to peep into what many are doing in their respective capacities and stations as regards gender equality.
Bits by bits the message is driving home and the society will be better for it going forward.
Thanks Busi for being such a great motivator.
Ngwenya Denis: Thanks Busi for the summary. It gives everyone the opportunity to understand what other people are doing in their stations to address gender inequality
Joshua Baba Madaki: Thanks for the opportunity to learn from your expertise in this realm of knowledge sharing.
Producers and presenters must ensure adequate utilization of what will trigger the interests of both male and female gender to reaching and agreeable point against the prevailing cultural norms of the societies that we’re living in.
As to resource control - farmlands etc, it is a bit tasking in some cultures for now but going forward it will get better by the day through this vigorous campaign by radio stations and advocacy groups.
Jamila Maiiyali: This summary has help me to have more ways in tackling gender balance in radio program
Thanks Busi Ma it’s very worthy
Abdul Froko: Good day every one!
There is this saying, that it’s better late than never. I have been so busy last week organising my programmes and that accounts why I’m stepping in late. Sorry for that. Busy, I salute you.
We are looking at “how gender equality is addressed in radio programming and “how women participation in radio programmes can be improved”.
Gender equality can be addressed in radio programming in the following ways:
- Production teams of all programmes should involve women at all levels of the production cycle and presentation of programmes. Women should also be allowed to participate in internal decision-making at the radio station.
- Programme Managers should ensure that everyone working at the radio is aware of gender issues and support any approach based on equity towards producing programmes the station broadcasts.
- Ensure that voices and concerns of women are included in daily news programmes.
- Make women your target in conducting interviews for your programmes and also project them in the programme when presenting it.
- Ensure that women are presented in a positive light on the airwaves as active members of your Production Team(s).
- Support women in acquiring the technical skills and confidence needed to help them take charge of their own programmes and lead the teams.
Women participation in radio programmes can be improved by: - Allocating some space in programmes time slot for women to express themselves.
- Allocating a dedicated phone-line for them to participate. Programme Host can call them into the programme to take part.
- Women can also be organised into Listenership Clubs, where they can express themselves freely to participate in radio programming. Names of such clubs and probably leaders of the clubs can be mentioned on airwaves to encourage other women to join.
- Debate between men and women should be encouraged too.
These are some of the programme activities radio stations can carry out to ensure gender inclusion in radio programming.
Yes, I agree with your last bit because we still have women who are not even free to speak to the media. From my own experience I have sometimes gone an extra mile in convincing and encouraging as well explaining the relevance of the interview before one can accept. This discourages but we strife.
True co-hosting a program by both male and female is one other perfect way of addressing gender equality at any station. But I have an experience in that our female colleagues here have a lot of excuses st times you end up alone in the show to the point that it cannot be sustained. Some have family engagements, they would wish to leave early, supposing it is a night program or come later in the morning after preparing children to school. I think more needs to be done in creating conditions that favour women.
At work place sometimes Managers face challenges especially at night duties,in some instances they prefer men who can work at any time and they do not go for maternity leave.To balance I think it is also good to provide houses closer to work place so that they can work at any time,in addition maximum security to be enhanced.
1. In your station, what kind of programs address gender issues and include women? Do you have any examples from your own work you can share?
- At Voice of Kigezi FM we have a whole program dedicated to gender issues and it includes women by even virtue of its name -Eiraka ry’abakazi, directly translated as The Voice of Women.
- The same station caters for gender issues and includes women by having 8 of the 20 programs presented or co-presented by females and this ensures gender issues are handled and not neglected.
- An early morning one hour program running monday to friday is dedicated to addressing social problems and listeners are encouraged to write in letters about their issues, the letters are read on air, listeners call in or text to offer solutions and advice, while experts are brought in when required. Among issues discussed on the program are those about land ownership and disputes, gender based violence, parenting and health among others.
2. How can broadcasters prepare for a radio program that addresses gender equality? How do you ensure your programs include women?
To Prepare for a radio program that addresses gender equality;
- Plan to have the program scheduled to run at a time friendly to all genders,
- Get producers and presenters that understand gender issues,
- Present a gender sensitive pitch for discussion,
- Get panelists, vox pop interviewees, experts etc that are representative of all genders,
- For field interviews, in studio or other productions allocate them time to cater for participation of all genders,
- Ensure Panelists and experts or other guests to the program are briefed on the use of gender sensitive language and also balance their contribution with gender equality in mind,
- Encourage listeners of both genders to participate especially when one of the genders male or female is more active overshadowing the other,
- and response to issues raised on the show should not be biased against any of the genders but rather giving all a platform to be heard.
We ensure our programs include women by; - Getting more female presenters hosting or co-hosting programs,
- Inviting to the program and interviewing female guests, experts and interviewees,
- Pitching topics that target exploration of issues about women,
- Ensuring presentation of the programs about women is done at times likely to have more women listeners,
- Getting issues about women or the the women’s perspective included in male dominated discussions.
- Recognizing their(women) participation on air,
- Respecting their privacy when requested,
- Interviewing them, when need be, in groups,
- And considering their protection as a priority before, during and after the program.
3. What challenges do you face in addressing gender equality in your radio programs?
- Limited knowledge by some program presenters on how to address gender equality.
- Lack of resources to fully accommodate gender equality in programs.
- Low numbers of female listeners calling in programs compared to their male counterparts.
- Most Women in our region are home managers or contribute to the financial or other well being and sustainability of the family, meaning that, drawing them out to participate in programs may be tricky, especially the time factor.