We still live in an era, where women are present but not heard. This is a new article published in the beat magazine: the pulse of UCT. Special thanks are due to UN Women.
The media representation of women in Africa is one of the ongoing debatable issues without clear and settled answers. Optimists and pessimists take very polarized views of either reflecting the reality of women in the African societies, or they continue to be mired in outdated, sexist images and vocabulary.
According to Kofi Anan, “Women are shown as sex objects by media all over the world. Actually, negative stereotyping of women and rigid gender roles keep them from entering male-dominated sectors or accessing top managerial positions” (Kofi Anan, 2005: 5-12).
Discrimination against women varies considerably from country to country as a result of political and civil rights, family laws, and access to education and jobs, or more generally, in the restrictions imposed on women by traditional social customs. However, the representation of women still experiences “double jeopardy “. They are not only subject to the widespread restrictions on civic and political participation affecting both sexes, but also are further denied autonomy by the discriminatory ” personal status laws. ”
