Despite constituting half the world’s population, women remain significantly underrepresented in global news, appearing or being heard in merely 26 percent of broadcast, radio, and print segments. This stark reality, highlighted by the latest findings from the extensive Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP), underscores a persistent inequality that has seen little change over the past 15 years.
A Stagnant Landscape of Representation
The GMMP, the longest-running and largest study on gender representation in media, has consistently documented this imbalance since its inception. The latest report reveals that women constitute only 26% of news subjects and sources across various media platforms. This figure represents a mere nine-point improvement over 30 years, indicating a glacial pace of progress towards parity. While the proportion of female reporters has seen some increase, with women now accounting for 41% of journalists in traditional news articles, this has not translated into equal representation in the stories themselves.
The Nature of Women’s Voices in the News
When women do appear in the news, they are more frequently quoted as eyewitnesses or personal opinion providers, rather than as subject matter experts. Data from 2015 showed women comprising only 19% of subject matter experts, a proportion that remained largely unchanged. This pattern suggests that women’s voices are often relegated to personal accounts rather than authoritative commentary, further limiting their influence and visibility in shaping public discourse. The news often reinforces stereotypes, with only about 2% of stories actively challenging gender biases, a low point in three decades of GMMP monitoring.
Implications for Society and Democracy
This persistent underrepresentation has significant implications. According to UN Women Deputy Executive Director Kirsi Madi, an incomplete representation of women in media leads to an incomplete democracy. When half the world’s population is not fully reflected in the narratives that describe our reality, it fosters a skewed perception of society. This lack of diverse voices can perpetuate harmful attitudes and deny women recognition for their knowledge and expertise. Furthermore, critical issues such as gender-based violence, which affects a vast portion of the world, often receive minimal coverage, with fewer than 2 in 100 stories addressing such abuse.
A Rollback in Progress and Future Outlook
The GMMP’s findings also point to a worrying “rollback in progress” for gender equality in journalism. The report indicates that journalism actively challenging gender stereotypes is at its lowest in three decades. This trend is seen as evidence of a growing global backlash against gender equality, undermining hard-won advancements. Experts emphasize that media plays a crucial role in shaping perceptions and that the underrepresentation of women can reinforce traditional roles and biases. At the current rate of change, it is estimated that it will take at least another 67 years to achieve numerical gender parity in the news.
Addressing the Imbalance
Addressing this deep-seated issue requires a multi-faceted approach. Experts and advocacy groups like WACC, in partnership with UN Women and UNESCO, are calling for a radical rethink of media strategies to foster more inclusive and representative journalism. Increasing the number of women in newsroom leadership positions and actively seeking out women as expert sources are identified as crucial steps. The research also highlights that when women journalists report stories, women subjects are more likely to be featured, underscoring the importance of gender parity within the media workforce itself. As the world continues to strive for gender equality, ensuring women’s voices are heard and visible in the news remains a critical, yet unfinished, task.