Misako Ito
Regional Advisor for Communication and Information, UNESCO Bangkok
The Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) 2015 reveals that women make up only around 1 in 4 people heard, read about or seen in the news. Studies also show that women representations in the media in Asia and the Pacific often reinforces stereotypes and traditional gender roles. Women are most commonly depicted as “victims”, “family figures” or “sex objects”.
Thai media are no exception. A 2014 study that looked at one month’s worth of news coverage on Thai television showed that when it came to experts interviewed in different fields (politics, economy, social issues, etc), 76% were men and 24% were women. A similar trend held for members of the public interviewed for their views on news of the day: 75% men, 25% women.
Why should we worry? Because media messages have a powerful impact on our behaviours and values. More women voices in the media is essential: to reflect and encourage the active participation of women in society.
In Thailand, there is a striking gap between the actual contributions women make to the society and economy and their participation in political sphere and decision-making. The country has one of the highest percentages of women scientists: 53%. Thailand is also one of the six countries together with Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Peru and Indonesia where as many women are starting business as men. But the country ranks 127 out of 144 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2017 when it comes to women’s participation in political sphere. One of the areas where this challenge is particularly tangible is in the media.
The project Women Make the News Thailand aims at addressing this gap. Targeting especially journalists, the project seeks to offer media a concrete tool to feature more women voices in their news coverage. The tool provides journalists with a list of over 280 profiles and contacts of Thai women experts in three areas that were identified as lacking women’s voices in the media: 1. Media, ICT and Innovation, 2. Culture and Histories of ASEAN, and 3. Environment and Climate Change.
(Presented in the international conference – Prominent Women in the ASEAN Community, 13 July 2018, Le Meridien Hotel, Bangkok, organized by Institute of Thai Studies and Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University)