Portrayal of women in the media

Women appear less on TV as spokespersons than their male counterparts. Women are also less likely to make repeat appearances on programs and tended to appear in later segments of programs. Female characters in film and television tend to be younger than males, and this also occurs in relation to news readers.

The number of women in daily newsrooms is around a third of men. Minority women account for less than a fifth of these women. Men still dominate as managers in the media sector, and are usually around 60% of all copy editors, 60% of reporters and 72% of photographers. Only 5% of the 70 or so television stations in the US are owned by women.

Women continue to be significantly underrepresented on television and in the movies. There is wide belief that age is a barrier to opportunities for women actors. Women over 40 years of age are usually cast in only 11% percent of roles while men over 40 secure around 25% percent of roles cast.

While women have been the majority of university journalism majors since the 19070's, a ratio of around 3 to1 male to female bylines is seen.

Women fare somewhat better in pursuing communication jobs. Female journalism and mass communication graduates are more likely to find full-time employment than their male classmates, and have done so since the mid 1980's.

Women fare somewhat better in pursuing communication jobs. Female journalism and mass communication graduates are more likely to find full-time employment than their male classmates, and have done so since the mid 1980's

Almost 15 minutes of every hour of commercial television is adverts and it's almost entirely a view of the world as seen and portrayed by men.

Whoever controls assignments, whoever decides how a story is going to be covered, whoever decides what placement that story gets in a newspaper or over the airwaves, is not only shaping the content of news, but is deciding what readers and listeners know and how they know it. Media leaders are not just industry leaders, they have the power to shape society’s attitudes.

Media content will never be reflective of the communities it serves unless the gender and racial composition of newsrooms, executive suites and boardrooms reflect that of the public. Women are half of the population but they are only a blip on the radar in upper echelons of media companies where news priorities are set. Ensuring women are accessing decision-making jobs in media is not just a question of equity but it is a question of democracy. What's your opinion?

This article has 3 responses.

1. Jana Harmon from Canada wrote:

I know that in the rise to recognize women and men as equal entities, this brings greater acceptance and r4ecognition of balance, and this is essential for democracy. Leadership should be all about the benefit to all. Unfortunately the media more often cover negative subjects regarding women, war and so forth as that makes news. As a women in the acting and performing arts arena, I would like to see women addressed more positively in the media. More women should certainly be involved in what constitutes news and the decisions about media coverage.

2. Jean Rogers Actress Vice President Equity (UK) from UK wrote:

LET'S CHANGE THINGS AND HAVE EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN TV and FILM. Over 3000 people have now signed a petition, calling for urgent action by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 to address the imbalance. Over half the viewing public is female, yet in TV drama for every female character, there are two male characters (35.3% female roles to 63.5% male roles). Whilst leading parts are frequently played by male actors over 45, women in this age group start to disappear from our screens. The message this sends to viewers is distorted and distorting. We call on all the major UK television channels to take action to correct this imbalance. Please sign the Petition at www.gopetition.com/online/24658.html

3. Rachel Maclean from Canada wrote:

As a woman who is part of the media, I would like to reiterate the fact that women are under represented in today's newsrooms, but at my university the journalism program was overwhelmingly female. I very much find that men hold the positions of power in media as they are the ones that have worked up the ladder in a industry that has been very male dominated. But one anecdote of hope is at my current office all the reporters are women, as well as all of our advertising staff. So we are coming! Watch out.