The Representation of Women in the Star and the Reject Newspapers

Abstract

This study explored the representation of women in the Star and the Reject news papers. The specific objectives were to determine the distribution of women news subjects as well as to describe the images of female news subjects in the two news papers. The study was conducted in two media houses, Radio Africa, and Africa Woman and Child Features Services (AWCFS). Data were collected using descriptive research design and analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative research tools. Findings from the quantitative data are presented in tables while those from qualitative data are presented in narrative form. The major findings indicate that women constitute only 23% of the news coverage. They are underrepresented both as news subjects and as news contributors. The research found that women news subjects are given limited print space irrespective of the position they hold in society. It further revealed that women news subjects are rather quoted giving personal accounts or eyewitness accounts and rarely are they quoted as experts. In the event of an exception, when they are spokespersons, they are allocated very limited print space. The research concluded that the media is reinforcing the stereotypical portrayal of women as wives, mothers and victims, rather than challenge these stereotypes. This study therefore, recommends the mainstreaming of gender in all media policies, and a change of attitude by media practitioners towards gender issues