Women are the missing voices in radio talk shows

Women are the missing voices in radio talk shows ? as hosts, guests and callers. Although women would like to discuss more social topics, including gender equality, these are generally missing in the programme line ups. Chat shows often reinforce stereotypes about the role of women and men in society and these go unchallenged by the predominantly male hosts of the shows.

22 February, 2006: Women are the missing voices in radio talk shows – as hosts, guests and callers. Although women would like to discuss more social topics, including gender equality, these are generally missing in the programme line ups. Chat shows often reinforce stereotypes about the role of women and men in society and these go unchallenged by the predominantly male hosts of the shows. 

These are among the key findings of a survey of eleven radio talk shows in four Southern African countries conducted by Gender Links in partnership with country chapters of the Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) Network from June-July 2005. 

The study titled “Mirror on the Media: Who talks on talk shows?”  found that women make up only 25 percent of callers to radio talk shows. On average they constitute only 36 percent of talk show guests and 32 percent of hosts. Only a small proportion, 9%, of the 55 shows monitored focused specifically on gender-related issues. 

Stereotypes about women are often reinforced in chat shows without being challenged and although presenters tried to be fair, women guests and callers were sometimes addressed in patronizing and demeaning ways.  

The reasons for the generally low participation by women in radio talk shows are complex. In the two shows hosted by women had the highest proportion of women callers, and many complained about the approach of male hosts in the other programmes which women seemed to find intimidating. 

However, having more women guests did not seem to change the extent to which women called in: in the show with the greatest gender balance with regard to guests also had the lowest proportion of women callers. 

Topics discussed could have a bearing on women’s participation. In , for example, participation by women increased visibly in a show normally dominated by male callers when the topic switched from current affairs to health and education. 

The study proposes a range of measures to achieve greater gender balance and sensitivity in radio talk shows. These include: more in-depth, gender disaggregated audience research; a greater diversity of topics and in particular more attention to topics that are of direct concern to women; a conscious effort to achieve gender balance in the selection of hosts and guests (where stations have the most control); gender awareness training for hosts; as well as gender and media literacy training for the public, especially women. 

To read the full report, go to https://www.genderlinks.org.za/page.php?p_id=301

Read about the Three weeks of activism on gender and the media

 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Tolmay on +27 11 622 2877 or 083 519 8959