Superwoman: The Ladies of the News
Women earning journalism degrees has been on the rise for decades, but female leadership and presence in newsrooms has remained static. Many cite both bias and discrimination as the main causes of this gap, but it actually goes even deeper. Everyone knows the potential sinister dangers of journalism. However, not many consider the even more dire threats female journalists face.
Women in the Newsroom
“Each year, women comprise more than two-thirds of graduates with degrees in journalism” (York). However, “the media industry is just one-third women, a number that only decreases for women of color” (York). Women have dominated journalism college classrooms since the 1980s, yet there’s still a significant gender gap in professional newsrooms (York). As a result, even fewer women are taking on high profile leadership roles in journalism: “Women run three of the top 25 newspaper titles in the U.S. and only one of the top 25 titles in the world” (York).
Dangerous Occupation
The dangerous aspects of journalism could be a potential reason for the decline of women in newsrooms: “Some argue that journalism has grown too dangerous for women” (Munoz). All journalists, regardless of gender, face challenges, but “women face additional gender-related threats, harassment and violence” (Munoz). The solution isn’t eliminating women in journalism: rather, proper training and education should be encouraged. For example, the International Women’s Media Foundation journalists to handle dangerous situations. “These trainings use realistic scenarios to equip women journalists — and men as well — to avoid dangerous situations, escape as needed, and treat injuries” (Munoz).
Empowerment, Not Limitation
The solution to this serious issue isn’t removing women from journalism to protect them: that only decreases diversity in a media environment that desperately needs a wider range of voices. Rather, women must be empowered: women are stronger than anyone can imagine. All we need is the right tools.