
SHARE:
When choosing a mate, men and women look for different qualities, many of which focus on outward appearance.
When choosing a mate, men and women look for different qualities, many of which focus on outward appearance.
Trainer’s notes
Gender includes stereotypes about women and men, and the media plays a role in perpetuating both. Journalists and editors need to be re-trained to not just present stereotypes as the norm, but to challenge representations which do not reflect the complex and diverse roles and lives of women and men.
In her article, ‘Taking Gender out of the Ghetto’, Karen Williams gives the following pointers on how to make reporting gender sensitive:
Training tip: Put up these pointers on a flipchart or board. Refer to the pointers which apply to the case study when discussing its weaknesses and the stereotypes it conveys. When summarising the pointers on how to avoid subtle gender stereotypes in reporting, give to trainees a copy of ‘Taking Gender out of the Ghetto’, p. 38 in the gender in media training, a southern African toolkit.
Analysis of case study ‘What do women look for in a man?’
This story is told through the voices of four men and four women. The tone and line of questioning which the reporter took reflect the biases and views of the journalist on the subject. Several stereotypes about women and men emerge in the story:
There also is a subtle racial stigma in the story when one female source refers to not being attractive to someone “who is very dark”. The article is filled with adjectives and descriptive phrases which pertain to the body, appearances and notions of “good behaviour” which moves the piece from balance and fair reporting to subtle comment which displays biases and promotes stigma.
Training exercises
Exercise one: Identify examples of how gender stereotypes are conveyed in society then identify how they can be challenged under the following themes:
📝Read the emotional article by @nokwe_mnomiya, with a personal plea: 🇿🇦Breaking the cycle of violence!https://t.co/6kPcu2Whwm pic.twitter.com/d60tsBqJwx
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) December 17, 2024
Comment on What do women look for in a man?, The Chronicle