Gender in Media Education Research launched in Mauritius

On 21 November, the University of Mauritius’ Mass Communications Unit in partnership with the Gender Links (GL) Francophone Office in Mauritius launched the research on Gender in Media Education (GIME). In total, 104 participants (84 female and 20 male) including academics, media practitioners, students and representatives of NGOs attended the launch. The Minister of Gender Equality, Mireille Martin officially launched the report.

Loga Virahsawmy, the Director of the GL Francophone office expressed GL’s gratitude to the Minister, the university lecturers Roukaya Kasenally, Christina Chan Meetoo and Azaghen Chenganna for their active participation in research as well as the students who participated in the focus group discussions.

While showing a few slides on the findings of GIME, Virahsawmy expressed her astonishment that although there are more female than male students in the journalism course of the University, media houses and newsrooms tell a different story. There are more male than female journalists. She added that whilst a critical mass of female journalists does not necessarily mean that there will more women’s voices in the media. Qualitative reporting that reflects gender sensitive reporting is important hence the need for a gender module in journalism courses. She encouraged the university to take the findings of the research seriously and implement them.

Lecturer, Christina Chan Meetoo told the audience that as soon as the GIME research had been completed, the department realized serious gender gaps in the journalism course. The department has since developed a module called “Gender in the Media” which she is teaching. The module deals with different gender issues such as the differences between sex and gender, masculinity and LGBTI among other things. She said that the University will collaborate more with Gender Links for reading materials as well as the expertise on gender and media issues.

She informed the audience that her Department has received funding from UNESCO for a stand-alone gender component in the journalism course of the University. She concluded by saying that the great number of people present at the launch is proof that gender is no longer the concern of a small group of die-hard feminists but is now a cause for general concern. To read the findings of the GIME research, click here.