Women In Politics-Do The Political Media Treat Women And Men Equal Essay Example

at the local government level or national parliaments such as the House of Commons, Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales, Northern Ireland Assembly and European Parliament. Despite many democratic countries proclaiming equal rights for both genders, underrepresentation of women remains prevalent in global politics.

In the political history of twentieth-century UK, Queen Elizabeth and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher are two highly influential women. Thatcher made history by being the first female Prime Minister in 1979 and leading for almost twelve years. Additionally, Dame Brenda Hale was a notable role model for female politicians as the first woman Judge on the male-dominated British Supreme Court. However, despite these impressive accomplishments, women's representation in politics remains disappointing. According to a 2006 report by Women & Equality Unit, only 25% of European Parliament UK members were women.

Discrimination and cultural barriers are the reasons for the lack of women in politics. The Electoral Commission states that male MPs' portrayal during political campaigns discourages women from participating, which can lead to feelings of intimidation and a lack of confidence when it comes to leadership. Despite their historical struggle for voting rights, many women today feel indifferent towards politics. However, there's been a rise in female engagement within 21st-century politics.

The media reinforces societal stereotypes of women, particularly in politics, where female politicians are often judged on their sex appeal rather than accomplishments. This sexualization undermines women's authority and diminishes their political contributions. While women may be depicted as role models for traditional feminine issues, the media's approach prevents them from being heard on other important matters.

The portrayal of powerful women by the media is often problematic. Examples include The Washington

Post referring to Condoleezza Rice as a "dominatrix" when she became the National Security Advisor, and The New York Times publishing her dress size and describing her laugh as girlish. Meanwhile, in The Guardian, Benazir Bhutto was characterized by a female journalist as both complex and fun-loving. Unfortunately, stories related to sexual assault tend to take precedence in the media due to their selling potential. Feminist representation is lacking in the media due to institutional factors such as financial and political agendas of media monopolies. Despite efforts by the government to decentralize power and implement positive measures resulting in an increase of political representation for women in Scotland and Wales - including 40% of women serving as MPs in Scotland and Welsh Assembly - there is still significant room for improvement.

The Welsh assembly takes pride in having an equal number of women and men in parliament, a feat unmatched globally. In contemporary society, the way female politicians are presented to the public has become increasingly crucial as it shapes our perception. Ross (2003) suggests that news is viewed as a commodity and ourselves as consumers, thus the representation of women in politics is marketed to us based on quality. Despite overcoming traditional gender roles to gain media attention and pursue political careers, their success remains underpublicized due to an exaggerated emphasis on their failures.

Baird argues that women politicians are tracked by opponents not because of their gender, but because of their effective vote-pulling skills due to their feminine approach. However, media criticism is still prevalent, and women who adopt a no-nonsense approach receive the most neutral coverage. Traditional traits may lead to portrayal as rescuers.

Women in politics are not solely dependent on media representation but also use it for their own publicity, leading to their own downfalls. This fact is recognized by journalists and politicians but not feminist academics and commentators. In September 1997, the IPU established the Universal Declaration on Democracy in Cairo and urged governments worldwide to implement its provisions.The initial part was named "The Principles of Democracy". It declares that democracy can only be accomplished through an authentic collaboration between males and females. This collaboration should occur during the management of societal matters where they should equally work in harmony. Their differences should be viewed as a source of mutual enrichment rather than conflict.

The UN's Beijing Declaration emphasizes that achieving gender equality and empowerment, including access to power and decision making, is crucial for development, peace, and equality. Governments need to follow democratic principles in line with this declaration. The media also has a significant role to play, but concerns exist about the continuation of sexual stereotypes. To address this issue, the IPU has adopted resolutions aimed at reducing gender imbalances in political participation and promoting women's importance in politics and media representation.

It was emphasized that any stereotypical image should be banned by law. While it is true that the media is not responsible for individual actions, attitudes, and behavior, they are equally powerful in influencing the public's mindset through their words. The media often portrays women with negative and stereotypical images, failing to highlight their real contributions towards social and political change achieved through commitment and hard work. Instead of reflecting existing social and cultural patterns prevalent in society, the media should show sensitivity towards

women and gender issues. Various measures are being considered to improve the media's attitude towards women's contributions, such as the next Congress potentially pressuring communications policy issues that may change the way we use first amendment freedoms. Examples of such issues include Internet freedom, media ownership consolidation, privacy rights, copyright reform and more.

Becoming an active and discerning media consumer is crucial, particularly in regards to challenging sexist media coverage. Organizations such as Women in Media ; News (www.WIMNonline.org) offer educational multimedia presentations on college campuses, maintain online alert lists and a women's media monitoring group blog. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for regulating media accuracy and content.

In 2006, Jonathan spoke about the media industry serving the public interest and called on Congress to monitor censorship of news. He also emphasized the need for women to challenge the stereotype role assigned to them by taking action, such as training female politicians on effective communication in press conferences, presentations, and press kits. Women need to assert themselves more confidently and promote their ideas and accomplishments, despite traditional gender roles. The government must also adjust communication policies to ensure gender sensitivity in media and provide fair opportunities for women politicians in the socio-political economy.