Social Media

From traditional legacy media to online media, today's media still have an immense effect on our opinions and ideas about the role of girls and women (gender roles) in society. Unfortunately, what we have learned so far is that the media continues to promote gender inequality. Researches show that children are conditioned from a young age by the gender stereotypes portrayed to them by the media.

Keeping up with Social Media

Social media is an outlet where people go to find out the latest information, stay connected to people and updated with the latest trends. Social media is a very powerful platform whether it may be in a positive or negative way and it impacts many people in different ways. Discrimination is very active on social media, starting from calling names, racism and to gender discrimination. In these times there are a lot of young children that are often online looking at posts and the given messages in such. The messages that are put in there can be published by anyone and don't always have the credibility, such as a newspaper. It is hard, especially for young people to filter this out and to know what to let them truly influence. It was found that people on social media post 20% more about sons than daughters. On average, the post about sons receive 1.5 times more likes and these types of results may send a signal that girls may be less important than boys.

„I faced and saw discrimination plenty of times on the internet. Women and girls get attacked with certain insults and prejudices.”

„There is a lot of exploitation of inappropriate pictures.”

Responses from our Gender Equality Survey

Effects of Social Media

There are a lot of hound women that often browse through the different social media outlets which allows them to see a lot of beauty standards that they won’t typically see within their social group. Social media influencers often have similar body types and ways of dressing, and that may influence some young girls into thinking that they aren’t beautiful enough. Social media is not only viewed as different apps, however it is viewed as a lifestyle that people live off of. Researchers have found a link between body dissatisfaction on social media, especially being female. It is shown online that most women have perfect skin, and a “perfect body” or live a lifestyle that most women can’t afford.

A lot of women become obsessed with the power that they feel when they get a lot of likes and comments on their photos, which may make other women feel as if they aren’t good enough, because they don’t get as much attention on social media. All of the comparison that happens on social media can really affect a woman’s mental health, which can cause problems within their real life. Things such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and a bad body image of themselves. A lot of pressure is then added to some women because of social media and the way it portrays life. However, in reality most influencers aren’t actually living the lifestyle that they show on their platform and they are actually struggling in many different ways.

Tip:

Just follow pages and accounts on social media that give a positive impact on you. If you feel pressured or someone does not have a positive impact on you and your view, let go of them, at least for a while.

To fight against these wrong imaginations of how girls and women are supposed to look like by media, fashion and society, France came up with a law in 2017 that requires everyone to label their pictures/photos when they have been altered. Through this we all already know that even the models not always look like the picture and we get more of an awareness.

Positive outlook on Social Media

„Don’t use social media to impress people; use it to impact people.”

Dave Willis, American voice actor, writer, producer and musician

Although social media may affect some people in a negative way, it also may affect people in a positive manner. By allowing women to create platforms where they can openly speak about things that they are going through, empower other women or even create awareness about women’s rights. By being on social media things can spread very easily which enables a lot of people to come together and support each other during hard times or even educate themselves on certain topics that they are interested in learning. Many campaigns are started on social media that people all over the world can come together and connect to help a certain cause and bring awareness to the people from different backgrounds and cultures.

„Use social media to show who you are and what you stand for.”

Jessica Nazarali, business consultant, coach and strategist, helping leading coaches, entrepreneurs and influencers

'Violence against female media workers'

In recent years, the protection of female media staff has become a major concern, as it forms another barrier to gender equality within the media. Many female media employees face gender-specific violence both within and outside their organizations and, yet more, online. Virtual and physical violence based on gender (GBV) represents a risk to freedom of speech and access to information.

Silencing women journalists is an assault on democracy itself, as it contributes to self-censorship, because of violence, women withdraw from the public sphere. Because of the threats, harassment or assaults they face, almost a third of female journalists consider leaving the profession. For the same cause, over a third of female journalists stopped covering those news.

Nearly half of female journalists report violence online. Many of them suggest that the harassment has caused them to become less active on social media or even inactive, though it is a vital part of the work. Threats are often of a sexual and racial nature, aimed instead of content at the employee, rendering the workplace an unsafe women's environment. This leaves far fewer female voices in the male-dominated media domain. The media sector should be responsible for providing all workers with a healthy working environment and for implementing policies to prevent it. If not, mechanisms are important to provide the required support.

Some recommendations to the Commission on the Status of Women by the International Media Support

Recognizing the essential role of the media in empowering women in all fields through the creation of gender-sensitive and gender-transformative content and the breaking of gender stereotypes. This should help achieve gender equality, besides policies, laws, and processes, beginning with national media policies and self-regulation of the media industry. A main goal for Member States and the media industry has to be the protection of female media workers. It is important to establish a culture of safety and to put in place effective processes for complaints and resolution.

Story of an up and coming social media influencer

"My name is Cay Hill,

I’m a singer/songwriter from St.Maarten. Being that I was always more on the shy side, social media has helped me to meet and be heard by different people. It allows you to network and connect with so many different people in your industry and work. It’s really cool when you can do a cover and the artists connect with you. Being from a small island, social media can help you to connect with the bigger world especially if you use specific tools and learn the algorithm. I’m still learning and it’s definitely a process. It’s all about staying consistent, loving your craft, and sharing your craft with your followers who turn into family.

Sincerely, Cay Hill"

Importance of the role of Social Media

Children are impacted from a young age by the gender roles shown to them by the media, and can have consequences on the future. For example, in the film industry, as well as in advertising, women are often viewed in stereotypical and hyper-sexualized roles, which have long-term social issues. Contrary to that, 73% of management positions are filled by men, compared with 27% held by women.

The role of media plays a big part in achieving gender equality, such as producing content that is gender-sensitive and gender-transformative and removing stereotypes of gender, as well as, questioning some expectations and beliefs about both content and media houses' perceptions of gender. Representing women in leadership positions and as experts on a regular basis on a range of subjects, and not as an exception, can also be shown to improve on this area. We as role models have to make sure that children get the chance to see women in strong positions and men also in vulnerable moments. It is the stereotypes that lead the movie industry and influences next generations in their way of thinking. In the "materials" section you can find a list with movies that represent how wrong stereotypes actually are.

To develop gender-transformative content and to implement self-regulatory equality policies, including access to decision-making roles, the media industry needs to be supported. It is important to control and evaluate the progress within the sector. Equality of gender in information, workplace and management is indeed established.