JTBC, MBN reports still promote gender stereotypes
The reports of general programming channels are suggestive and promote gender stereotypes, according to Korean Institute for Gender Equality Promotion and Education (KIGEPE) South Center and Center for Gender Equality & Family Policy at Ulsan Development Institute, which monitored news, current affairs, and debate programs of general programming channels such as JTBC and MBN as part of their ‘mass media gender equality monitoring' project.
Analysis of 41 reports from 5 news, current affairs, and debate programs aired from August 12 to 25 showed that over 80% of them were far from gender equality with 13 provocative reports and 21 reports promoting gender stereotypes. Moreover, women professionals were underrepresented in current affairs and debate programs. News programs only had a few interviews of professional women as well. Although there were some female reporters, the male reporters greatly outnumbered them. And even among the few female reporters, 58% were in charge of the living section, showing gender stereotype even among the workers.
“Media broadcasters seem to be trying to promote women’s participation in news reporting, but of all the reporters who engage in the actual writing of the reports, just 27% were women,” KIGEPE stated. “In particular, sexually discriminating expressions were still in use. Moreover, they were still taking a close up of women’s body parts in weather reports about heat wave. They are overlooking the ramifications sexually discriminating languages can have on encouraging gender stereotypes and unequal gender role beliefs.”
KIGEPE is planning to monitor commercials on terrestrial television and major portal sites and disclose the results.
