“If media can be a powerful agent of change, it can be an equally powerful agent of oppression. It can reinforce stereotyped images of women and their roles in society.”
Most of the pioneer-staff in the 1990s of our women NGO, Development Through Active Women Networking Foundation, were Mass Communication graduates. With our vision of “women’s equality with men”, we related with the local media for our social and structural transformation work. Thus, aside from newsletters, we issued press releases about our activities, such as trainings and marches, and held press conferences when we had national speakers during our fora.
The 1995 Beijing Platform for Action recognized the potential of media to contribute to the advancement of women. The role of the media is highlighted throughout all the critical areas of concern of the BPfA, and also the focus of a separate critical area of concern, under which the two strategic objectives were set:
• Increased participation and access of women to expression and decision-making in and through all forms of the media and new technologies of communication, and
• Promote a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in the media.
After the BPfA came out, DAWN Foundation had a project which included gender sensitivity trainings for media practitioners, and production of radio plugs, and dramas. Many months and years later, local media, on their own, sought women leaders for their views and comments whenever there are emerging global, national or local issues, thus giving spaces and airtime for women’s voices and perspectives.
***
In 2015, there was a surge of infidelity-themed films and teleseryes in Philippine media that moved me to research about it for my undergraduate thesis. Media is considered to be one of the most important tools of society in the modern times as it has the power to reach out to a large audience by mass communication and create an impact wherever it can reach.
If media can be a powerful agent of change, it can be an equally powerful agent of oppression. It can reinforce stereotyped images of women and their roles in society.
The Philippines has the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) that mandates the non-discriminatory and non-derogatory portrayal of women in media and film, to raise the consciousness of the general public in recognizing the dignity of women, and the role and contribution of women in family, community, and the society through the strategic use of mass media.
***
With the MCW, we were invited (sometimes we volunteered ourselves), to guest in local radio and TV talk shows, especially during Women’s Month and the Annual 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (formerly 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence). Sometimes, Negros Weekly (and our deeply missed ABS-CBN TV-4 and Visayan Daily Star), were ahead in asking about our plans even before our sector coordination meetings.
In several issues over the years, NW featured women’s advocacies in its covers and center spreads. For that, we are grateful. To Negros Weekly, “Thank you and Happy 20th Anniversary!” – NWI
Get well soon, Dawn, who wrote her part of the column from her hospital bed following a gallstone operation – NW Staff
