The Right to Gender Transformative Communication

Organization of American States HallWashington DC

November 2, 2015 -9:00 – 12:00

Prepared by: Dawnette Hinds Furzer B. Sc (Hons)WMW Jamaica

Women have made important advances in the field of communication

Frequently communication networks are used to portray stereotypical and degrading images of women

These images usually perpetuate and/or normalize violence against women

Women are usually falsely represented and seldom receive enough credit for their contributions and participation in society

The Inter-American Commission of Women Stated:

Women do not participate equally in decision making positions in media organizations

The media plays an important role in the achievement of equality by ensuring there is the absence of stereotypes and discriminatory phrases and images that portray women as commodities.

Extracted from CIM concept note

Statement …….

In September1995 the fourth World conference on Women Declaration was held in Beijing

Governments including Jamaica committed to adopt measures to foster a balanced, non-stereotyped image of women and to refrain from presenting women as inferior beings and commodities.

Where did the dialogue begin

Strategic objectives specific to the media

There should be an increase in the participation and access of women to expression and decision-making in and through the media and new technologies of communication (J.1)

Promote a balance and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in the media (J.2).

Outcomes

States Parties agreed to ensure that the communications media develop appropriate media guidelines to assist in the eradication of VAW in all its forms and to enhance the dignity of women (article8,g)

Balem do Para Convention

WMW Jamaica formerly Women’s Media Watch Jamaica uses gender-aware media analysis and transformative action to cultivate gender-equity, justice and violence-free social relations. 

WMW Jamaica uses media, drama-in-education and popular culture in inclusive ways that reflect the beauty and complexity of our differences and similarities. We enable individuals, groups, organizations and business to become more media literate, and therefore more empowered!

Why are we here?www.wmwja.org

Offering the course "Media, Gender and Development" at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communications, University of the West Indies, 1996 to the present

National inter-agency media campaign around violence against women and girls, 1998-2000

Pioneering a programme of Gender Training for Male Leaders, 2004-6.

The publication of a gender awareness analysis and media guide – Whose Perspective (2011) ISBN 978-976-610-897-7

Partners with the Jamaica Broadcasting Commission to develop child friendly policy guidelines introduced in 2003

National and regional research surveys as part of the Global Media Monitoring Project, every five years since 1995.

A Few of WMW Jamaica’s Achievements

Weekly community radio programme

Lobbying for legislative reform around sexual offences, domestic violence and sexual harassment.

Presenting at International Conferences (after breaking ground at Beijing 1995) and hosting regional forums on Gender, Media and Communications

Achievements

The media plays a huge role in shaping our views of the world. How do we relate to pervasive messages about sex and relationships, power and politics, in news,  magazines, electronic media, social media? In this digital age, the more media literate we are, the more empowered we are!

Why Communication?

The Jamaican Landscape

Press Association of Ja. Broadcasting Commission

Executive Body: 4 women, 2 men

The Chairperson is a woman

Executive Body: 3 men, 3 women

The Chairperson is a man

The Secretariat: 4 men, 5 women

The Exec. Dir is a man The Asst. Exec Dir is a

woman

The positions of leadership that influence media policy in Jamaica has a gender balanced representation

Media Association of Ja. Media Houses

Executive Body: 6 men, 3 women

Chairperson is a man

Jamaica has approximately

18 – Radio Stations

14 – TV Stations

2 major Print media

the Press Association of Jamaica was formed in 1943 after a discussion among Evon Blake, Wyatt Bryce and a lady who later became Mrs. Wyatt Bryce for ‘newspaper men’ and working journalists.  This was to be the first association of its kind in the Commonwealth Caribbean.

Press Association of Jamaica

The Broadcasting Commission’s role is to monitor and regulate the electronic media, broadcast radio and television, as well as subscriber television, balancing the interests of consumers, the industries and the creative community in implementing public policy and law.

The Broadcasting Commission

The overall goal of the Media Association Jamaica Limited is to strengthen the Jamaican society and democracy through the fostering of a vibrant, independent and responsible media.  Additionally, the Association seeks to develop the advertising and media industry by promoting, encouraging and fostering practices that are current, forward looking and professional.

With the growth and expansion in media, the MAJ advocates and lobby's on behalf of the media, holds training for media practitioners, conducts media research, providing support for civil society and heightening the public awareness of the Association.  In addition, the Association worked with survey researchers to help design an All Media document that was more reflective of the needs of the industry.

Media Association Jamaica

In collaboration with the Press Association of Jamaica, the Association has produced a Code of Ethics for Journalists to create a higher basic standard of journalism across the industry and to improve transparency and redress by media houses in the public interest.

WMW Jamaica continues to engage through varying ways.

Our Media Gender and Development Course at CARIMAC is ongoing…

The course helps students to understand how and why media reflect gender ideologies, convey gender messages and represent gender issues.

It explores how media can “re-present” and create gender realities that advance social, economic and cultural development.

Are there Good Practices?

The Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) is the largest international study of gender in the media. The findings are used in advocating for changes in the representation of women in the media. Every five years since 1995 the GMMP collects data on indicators of gender in the media, such as: the presence of women, gender bias, and stereotyping. The study, conducted in 2010, encompassed 108 countries

Gmmp

Has been involved in GMMP since its inception, we are the Coordinators for the Caribbean

The 2015 project saw WMW Jamaica training 12 National Coordinators 14 Local persons and 24 journalists and Communications students at CARIMAC

The National Coordinators had the responsibility to Coordinate training sessions in their region to assist with coding for The Global Media Monitoring on March 25, 2015

Whomakesthenews.org

WMW Jamaica

Story Journalists/Reporters People Analysis Basic information

1 Item number 2 Topic

3 Scope

4 Ref to Equality/Rights legislation / policy?

5 Role

6 Sex

7Sex

8 Occupation/position

9 Function in story

10 Family role given?

11 Identified as victim or survivor?

12 Victim of…

13 Survivor of…

14 Story about women?

15 Highlights (in)equality

16 Challenges stereotypes

17 Warrants further analysis?

 Monitor code ___________ Country code ____________ _ Channel _____________ Newscast start time ___________ _ Number of female anchors in newscast ______________________ Number of male anchors in newscast _______________________

Comments & ExplanationsContinue on back of sheet if necessary

                                  

                        

         

                        

         

                        

         

                        

        

                        

         

                        

        

                        

         

                        

         

                        

         

                        

         

                        

         

                        

         

                        

         

                        

         

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GMMP 2015

Antigua Bahamas Barbados Belize Cuba Grenada

Guyana Jamaica St. Lucia St. Vincent and the

Grenadines Suriname Trinidad & Tobago

Countries Participated

Summary findingsGMMP 2010 & 2015

• 45% of stories in 2010 - by female reporters (44% F reporters, in 2015)

• 55% of stories in 2010 - by male reporters (56% M reporters, in 2015)

Female Male

Politics and Government 17% 83%

Economy 19% 81%

Science and Health 50% 50%

Social and Legal 31% 69%

Crime and Violence 21% 79%

Celebrity, Arts & Media, Sports 32% 68% 

 ............................................................................................. 2010 Regional average 25% F

75% M

2015 Regional average 28% F72% M

Females & males in major news topics 2010

Newsmakers deliberately quoted: - the ratio of women and men was nearly equal

Constructing ‘victims’ or ‘survivors’ in news: ◦ About 20% of all males & females were depicted as a

victim - of accident, violence, disaster, economic problems, etc

◦ in 2015 – slightly higher rates of M & F portrayed as victims; and a higher ratio for women than men

◦ 5% of M & F were depicted as survivors in 2010

In 2015 – more women than men depicted as survivors

Portrayal of women & men in news

WMW Jamaica received funding from UN Women after the submission of its proposal in 2013 to carryout activities that focused on Media and Leadership.

The project ends in 2015 and reached over 200 women

The focus of which was to ensure women were trained and empowered to be confident in Leadership positions as well as how to utilize the media in getting their voices heard

powHERhouse Project

PSA to be added here

“iamapowherhouse

The 51% Coalition - Development and Empowerment through Equity is an Organization which came together to increase the participation of women in politics and on boards through a 60/40 quota system.

The 51 percent represents the percentage of the Jamaican population that is comprised of women. The coalition is a coming together of women to seek equity as a route for the development of the country and the empowerment of more than half of its population — women.

The aim is for no gender to have more than 60 percent or less than 40 percent of seats in the senate or on boards.

Admittedly, many women are afraid and have self-doubt about their ability to serve, whether on a board of directors or as a political candidate. …..

51% Coalition

Senator Imani Duncan-Price made a presentation in Parliament for the ‘Advance of Women’s Leadership in Politics and Decision Making’- the suggestion was made for a temporary special measure by way of instituting a temporary gender quota in Parliament.

she recommended a Gender–Neutral Reserved Seat system of 60%/40% in terms of recommendations for appointments.

Outcome:

Many strides have been made in a positive direction

But one cannot in the least believe that we are sailing smoothly

Although WMW Jamaica has been conducting a module on Media, Gender and Development at UWI, this course is a free elective; WMW Jamaica hopes for the day when this course will be one of the core courses for CARIMAC students

Smooth Sailing?

Having a gender balance at the policy level does not automatically mean that there will be a shift in the portrayal of women in the media

One has to also remember that the younger generation interacts with the media differently and is not being exposed to the issues of gender transformation

The powers that be recognize that the society can benefit positively from gender transformation and that gender ideals should be taught from the Early Childhood phase through to University

That globally we recognize how we depend on each other and in order for us to benefit from REAL transformation we ALL need to make the shift

It’s Time

ONE HAN ALONE CYAAN CLAP

Walk Good