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It’s the culture in Malawi which makes women to be silent and contribute less when they are in a mixed group with men, so a lot choose to remain quiet.
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Women themselves are not assertive enough and they doubt themselves hence sometimes they just hibernate.
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To help them participate and contribute positively they need to be economically independent so they must join available groups like village saving groups which will help to empower them
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Most women and especially in rural Kenya can’t make farming decisions because they don’t own land or have money to contribute to farming. They have to depend on their husband to voice their views, or act on any farming matter. Women also have no access to mobile or radio. Once that own or can access a radio or mobile can’t voice their opinions because they don’t have credit as their money is for food and other household stuff. Then there is shyness, calling a radio station is not easy and worse for women. They don’t have that confidence since immemorial, women has been taught to be shy, silent and to keep their opinions to themselves. By this way, they shy away from calling and speaking of their suggestions or farming problems.
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This is a great topic. It is very obvious that women usually do not participate much in radio programs.
From what I have seen and heard, some of the causes of women not being able to participate in radio programs are:
- Timing of program - Programs are not aired at times when women can be able to listen and participate. For instance, a program can be aired at a time when women are cooking. In this case, even if they are able to listen by multitasking (listening to the program and cooking/doing house chores simultaneously), they may not be able to leave what they are doing to pick their phones and call to contribute. With this, a research should be done (as Obolo rightly suggested) to ascertain what times women are available to listen and also participate in radio programs.
2.Conscious Effort by Broadcasters - Also, Most radio programs do not make the conscious effort to encourage women to participate. I have listened to radio programs where only men phone in and the host does nothing to encourage women to participate. this can also cause the lack of enthusiasm for women to participate in radio programs. Broadcasters can also go out to the field and record voices of their audience for the radio program. Here, the broadcaster has control over the gender balance in the voices featured on his/her program.
3.Lack of Phones and Mobile Credit - sometimes, women are not able to participate in radio programs because they either do not have phones or credit on their phones. This can be very worrying especially when these women have serious questions to ask or contributions to make. What broadcasters can do in this instance is to make phone outs to some women to enable them contribute.
These are some challenge I know of and my suggestions. Thank you!
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Hi colleagues…woowo…what an enjoyable discussion on interactive Radio!! Thank you Busi and all my colleagues who have made submissions to Week Three (Interactive Radio and Gender). I have taken some days reading through the discussions around Interactive Radio and Gender, and read through what colleagues have submitted. I will also make comments on some of what my colleagues and Busi have submitted or commented later. However, Busi tells us to respond to Week Three; while answering the following questions.
Below are my responses to the questions.
- Are there challenges women face in being able to interact or participate in radio programs? Yes, there are challenges that women face in being able to participate in radio programmes. Out of experience, i would like to give the following as some of the challenges and why it is so.
*A big number of women especially in the rural areas are not empowered enough to express themselves on air. Imagine most of them just receive calls when you need them and they will just beep you for a response even if it is them to benefit most so that you call them back. Men are more active and call in most of the programmes. They even volunteer to call you.
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They (women) are even timid to say their names and where they are calling from.
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When you open up a topic on marriage or say family life is when you get a considerable number of them (women) call in to contribute, but mostly those in urban centers not deep in villages. Things to do with agriculture, they will ignore thinking it is a boring topic or it is for men. I have asked women to participate, but they will say… aahhhaa…himself will answer (meaning her man or husband). I normally encourage her to talk aside…but very bad things said by the woman are edited out if i sense it may result into a bad relation with her man. But i find many men good and also even encourage their women to participate together with the man…and when i remind them to listen to the programme…instead they call me and tell me to repeat it…meaning; they get sense out of it…Many people both (men and women) have told me to go to them for recording that way! So as you said, a good interactive and well packaged programme will attract many women.
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It is also true that we do not get many women participate in our programmes especially the farming progs partly because they are aired during the time when they are busy cooking, fetching water and looking for firewood. And yet men sit down after garden relaxing with their radio on as they wait for food or for tea from the woman/wife. So it is indeed right that we should be making a rebroadcast of our programmes preferably during the prime time of say… from 7 p.m when the women have reduced the house chores.
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You will get more women in groups or at her home or in the village who can speak well as compared to call in. So i really support the resources that Busi and Blythe have provided on how to serve your women farmers well. It spells out all this.
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Also, naturally women are economists or let me say they do not want to spend their money any how. Much as one colleague here said it is because they are poor so they cannot afford buying airtime or credit, there are those in the village who are even doing better than the men, but they keep their money, and i heard one saying…men can waste money all the time to call in radio programmes. So here, if a woman is empowered and encouraged to participate in the Farmers’ programme, they can and will stick to it after learning the good in having an interactive radio.
2.Are there other groups in your area that don’t have the same opportunity to participate in programs? Yes, they are there. This is also due to the following:-
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All the reasons given in question one, do answer part of this question. But i would like to be open and say that some of us have not done a lot to find them or locate them or reach out to where they are to make them have the opportunity to participate in the programmes.
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Another reason is that some of us also do not know how best we can engage with such farmers or rural audience. So i can here appreciate the resources provided by the French Moderator…sorry for not remembering his name here…who said he used to walk through villages, wade in mud or walk through the dust to reach out to the farmers to get feedback and have them participate in the programmes. By the way…real stories are with those indigenous and rural farmers!
3.What are ways that broadcasters can help people that are normally left out be able to participate?
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First of all, the broadcasters themselves have to be informed to know how best they can help people left out to participate. This is best done through training of broadcasters on platforms like Farm Radio International/Bazar wire where they can obtain the skills to help people.
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Secondly, they have to connect to the vulnerable ones who may not have the means to participate in the programme by calling in or writing to the programme presenter and others. Here, the broadcasters have to make an earlier plan and look for resources to be able to reach out to such people. Resources like money.
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Some of us may be working under difficult situation in that we cannot be facilitated to go to the field. But we need to have the best interactive programmes. So we can try look for organizations that at times work in such communities that can facilitate us to get ourselves to such people. Bearing in mind that they (farmers) matter. We can also convince our media houses that are able to facilitate us to get us money and other things we require to go to the field.
*I cannot also forget to say that Farm Radio International can may be support us in any way so that we are able to once in a quarter of the year get out to the people who have no opportunity to be brought on board. I know it is not easy to support everybody, but through other partners, Farm Radio may can perhaps call for proposals or any other organ can call for media proposals to support in this line.
This is what i have to share.
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Dear Busi,
My opinion is that because of our cultural beliefs in Africa, women are unable to participate fully in some active roles like being on radio programme. For instance, the husband would rather be heard talking on radio than his wife because he is the first citizen.
The other groups who dont have opportunity are phyically challenged people who are not involved in production
Broadcasters can help these people by involving them in production by bringing the production to them. Finding a way to make this work, it is possible!
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Good topic.i have hosted the farmers voice at my radio station for two years now but have had less opportunities to host women farmers in this show. The reason is the time I run the show is evening time when women are busy preparing supper and other household coeres at their homes.secondly,women especially married ones get problems getting out of their husbands homes in the evening to appear on radio programmes.they are less empowered and some times get denied access to the radio programmes whenever they ask their husband’s for permission. Yet they do most of the agricultural work in the gardens.
I would therefore suggest that broadcasters need to reach out to women in their gardens and record them then later play their voices on radio, this has helped me me over the time. May be also,women in Uganda need to be empowered even more so they have a right to go out there,share information regarding agriculture in different foras.
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Radio stations can make attractive wins for women tailored needs.
The programmes should also be women focused programmes and produced and presented by women so that women can easily identify with them.
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Like this Alu. True…
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Hello @Monica
Thank you for the contribution. I just want to ask a few questions for clarity. How radio stations deal with the issue of cultural beliefs? If women are not allowed to contribute in discussions if men are there? You suggest that the physically challenged should be involved in production, how can this be done? Do you think this could also be a solution for women?
Are you suggesting that women cannot listen to radio if they are busy cooking? Remember radio is not like TV. You can listen anywhere while you are busy with other things. The only issue we can be concerned about is making sure women contribute to the radio program they are listening to. This does not necessarily mean they need to be physically present in the studio. As a host you need to encourage them to call in, send text messages or use any other form of media available to them e.g. social media.
Hello @smawerere
Thank you for your contribution. I agree with most points you have shared. It is true radio stations need to do more, especially reaching out to groups like women and other disadvantaged groups. Radio is not just for those with resources, it needs to read out to much more. There are areas radio stations cover but have no representation. Sometimes they realise this through phone calls and messages they receive from listeners in these areas. Communicating with these regular callers and asking them to volunteer could be a solution, they could record voices depending on the topic discussed and feed through the station. This way even women may be able to participate as they will be talking to someone from their own locality. That is something to consider.
That could also solve the point you made on women not being empowered:
This for sure is an issue, that is why other people complain of shy callers. There could be a way around this. How about having to record vox pops, or asking women to send voice messages, that way they will not be intimidated, they can record voice messages and send when they feel comfortable. I also believe if radio stations can work with women organisations, more and more women will gain confidence especially if they hear other women contributing on radio.
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Thank you Moderator (Busi).
For sure this is a learning lesson…there are so many women organizations at the country side doing a lot of farming, conservation etc. Let me embark on it and include it in this quarter’s work-plan. I should consider having as many women voices as i can to attract more women to take part in these programmes. Locating them and reaching out to them is also important i think since they may feel that they are important too, that they are respected and loved too.
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There is a generally agreed notion that women are marginalized in our society globally. What has differed over time is the level of marginalization. It is a very common knowledge these days that every activity in our lives is “SEXED” or “GENDERED”. This simply means that we have all grown up to know that the society has been divided along gender lines. Boys has been trained to behave and act like men while the girls have been trained and brought up to act and behave like women. Some people say it is “socially constructed” while others attributed that to “religion”, others say it is “Culture”, yet some say it is caused by all the above. That segregation, discrimination, division and bias against sexes have been age long. It has come this far to affect the way we relate with women even in the present day, the way women are represented on radio then is not an exception. Women themselves have tried to fight back such negative socio-cultural and religious construct against them through “FEMINISM”, “WOMANISM”, SISTERHOOD" “GENDERED MAINSTREAMING” etc. The fact remains that women are not equally represented or presented on radio like any other group. The question is : How then can we involve women more on radio?. Yes, there are many challenges facing women from getting more or equal representation or presentation on radio programmes. The challenges include: Social, Cultural, Religious, Political, Psychological, Economical etc. The social constructions of dividing roles along sexual lines put women at the rear and men at the front. So the men are more in the top decision making levels of radio broadcasting in our societies, so they think about men related issues and prospects more in deciding and developing the contents of their stations. So less attention is given to women. Secondly, there is cultural prohibitions in many communities hat discourage women from speaking out or getting involved in certain areas of life like broadcasting. The political, economical and psychological challenges hinges on the facts that less women has economic powers to own and operate radio stations and all that. Educationally women are not as educated as men in equal proportion due to psychological intimation overtime and political decisions of subsequent government’s decisions that never gave attention to women in the recent pasts.
There are other groups in my area that don’t have the same opportunity to participate in programs. These are the physically challenged and vulnerable groups. The children are also affected too when we think of involvement of everybody, The physically challenged are worst affected by this act of marginalization on radio.
The ways that broadcasters can help people that are normally left out be able to participate include: designing, producing and broadcasting radio programmes that are directly targeting these marginalized groups. Broadcasters can assist with pushing the envelopes of these groups by giving them voices on their radio. Agreed that women, children, physically challenged groups are not totally left out, but the level of interests and attention given to their interests have been swallowed by the commercial considerations of the radio broadcasters. In fact, recent studies have revealed that children’s times on radio are fast been given away for adult sponsored programmes and entertainment contents. The old culture of having children , and women belts have been eroded off our broadcast schedules.
So there are so many groups in the society that have been marginalized and sidelined on radio women, children, physically challenged people, vulnerable persons and groups etc. The question begging for answers here are: How many women interest, children interest, blind, crippled, dumb etc people’s interest programmes are on our daily time clocks? When we look very closely, our answers will spur us all to action. Other people are occupying this earthly space with us, we must involve and accommodate them in what we do. That is the spirit of social inclusion!
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Women are key in agricultural activities as they are bigger population against men in the field.But if given a chance they can be able to intract or participate in radio programs.
- however some challenges like cultural beliefs hinders women to talk in presence of men …like in some parts of malawi a woman can not talk in presence of her father inlaw . So it is better to have womens views separately
Most women also do not have control over the radio so they may not contribute to the program despite willing to do so because the husband wants listen to other things
2.the youths also are not privileged to own the radio because they cant control parents what to listen
On the other hand they can not contribute in presence of elders
3.women and youths should be targeted separately…there should be programs on the radio specialy for women and youths. This can give them the potential to interact
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Noble ideas here. Learning from all.
Women can make it if supported,encouraged and empowered. But some men still believe that women have no voice.They cant stand or speak before them.In some parts in western Kenya some women even cant join groups of even go to the market without husband’s permission.This is a big challenge. But through my programs,shows and events, I recognise those men who support women and encourage other men to allow their women participate in development matters as this will be reflected in their homes.
Some men even can’t allow their wives to speak on phone in radio programs.But during phone in sessions, I set aside 30mins or 15mins for women to air their views.This has encouraged others to participate although the percentage is still down.
Women in my target area have no land rights.Some even can’t plant or rear anything until the husband gives a nod.Sometimes widows are chased away from the land by relatives.
But I have learnt that when you place women aside you will for sure get many views.
We also need to encourage and empower those women living with disability.They have a voice.
This is it for now.
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I would like to thank you Krizo for your submission to Week Three. Thank you for defining the concepts like Gender, sex and social roles as constructed by society.
However, i would like to say that programming or design of programmes differs from station to station. Some Radio stations give more airtime to politics, entertainment and alike. When it comes to farming issues, some may think is old times to have such programmes. City based stations by the way do a lot of music and entertainment and commercials as compared to national radios or those that are based in the rural areas though entertainment is a key function in broadcasting. Therefore, issues of Vulnerability, bias against sex and other cultural practices have to be taken into consideration.
However, i would like to ask you my brother Krizo, how best do you think the physically handicapped or visually impaired can be handled in a farming programme for instance?
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Dear smawerere,
We can always create radio programmes that are targeted at the marginalized and vulnerable groups except that we need commitment and courage to do it. As far as the focus group are not deaf, we can always create design a radio content targeted at then. Technology has not developed to the extent that totally deaf person can listen to radio but since partially deaf person can enjoy radio programmes targeted at them. One station cannot do it alone. If station A is doing a weekly “ABILITY IN DISABILITY” featuring different handicapped groups interests at each episode, station B can be doing “WE ARE HUMANS TOO” giving voices to physically challenged persons doing things other humans are doing - if a man without two hands is a Fine Artist, Carpenter, Designer etc, it calls for attention. I saw a WhatsApp posting of a limbless man who got married to a lady that is well endowed. He signed the Marriage Register with his leg. We can do it as broadcasters only if we want. I have listened to dumb students from a School of Physically challenged people in Lagos Nigeria singing. I have seen the blind photographer. I have seen the limbless Painter. I have seen different kinds of handicapped people living life as humans except with what the normal people call difficulty. Cheers
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From the experience I have had, women are becoming more independent in matters of farming and sharing of the information but this happens when their husbands are not around. For example, I met a woman who practices mixed farming in Nzoia region Bungoma County. She really shared well about her farming and she walked us around her farm. She was free. When her husband arrived, she changed because of the fear of bringing visitors around. This limits women to their freedom of expressing the ideas they might have to reach out. Only widowed and single women can express themselves boldly without any fear.
In terms of contributing on radio, it al depends on the topic. When it is a social topic concerning life in general, there are equal call ins from men and women. But on specific topics like politics, women shy away. Majority will say they are not well informed about politics. Many of them will only talk when it is a one on one interview.
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Hello everyone,
Wow what a week! I really enjoyed the discussions. 
Big up to all who contributed.
This week we were talking about interactive radio and gender. We asked the following questions to direct the discussion:
In trying to summarise responses:
Yes women face a lot of challenges and as such are rarely able to interact in radio programs because of:
- Cultural values, society someone does not make it easy for women to freely share opinions and ideas especially in the presence of men and authority
- Women feel more comfortable contributing on issues directly affecting them as women, not general issues
- The time the program is aired has an effect on women participation, If it is broadcast when women are busy, there will practically be no contribution from women
- Access to radio and mobile phones also contributes to less participation
- Most women lack confidence, even though they may have valuable contributions, they get tongue tied when on air
- Some women lack airtime to make that call or send a message
- Some women are in poorly resourced areas and have no means of reaching out
- Some husbands do not allow their wives to be involved.
- Single and widowed women are normally free or more likely able to voice out their opinions compared to married women.
Some of suggested solutions were:
(i) empowering women so they can be confident enough to share their opinions,
(ii) reaching out to women where they are comfortable
(iii) broadcasting programs that specifically deal with women programs
(iv) providing other ways women can use to participate, e.g. individual interviews, recording vox pops, sending sms and voicemail.
In terms of other marginalized groups that are not given an opportunity to contribute in radio programs, the physically challenged are always at a disadvantage. Very few radio stations cater for programs specifically dealing with their issues. There is a slogan “nothing about us without us” which is used to communicate the fact that nothing should be decided by anyone without the full and direct participation of those affected. This slogan speaks for all marginalized group, in this case women and physically challenged individuals.
The last question that was asked was about ways that broadcasters can help the people who are normally left out to be able to participate. In response reference was also made to our French moderator’s experience of interactive radio where he used to physically go to hard to reach areas. It is a fact that not everyone has access to phones, therefore there is a need for radio stations to make sure that they allow people in these areas to send their contributions in any way they can, sending snail mail or sending their contributions and feedback through someone else. A lot on this will be covered when we deal with different interactive radio approaches and tools next week.
Thank you to all who shared useful resources, You can visit the useful resources topic to see more.
Enjoy your weekend!
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