Women’s Voices Absent from Airwaves in Liberia

The images told a story, one of confusion, misunderstanding and the stark reality that confronts the men in this room on a daily basis. It’s a reality that poses a challenge for IREX and its partners. At issue: mainstreaming gender in community radio programs and policies. The 19 men here were in the central Liberian city of Gbarnga for a CSML-run gender awareness training for community radio managers and news directors. They had been asked to draw images of their understanding of gender, and their drawings spoke volumes.

There were crude sketches of men and women co-existing on a somewhat equal level, while others showed scales with levers swinging in the direction of the women. These men (community radio leaders) were keenly aware of IREX and its partners’ efforts to promote gender equality and equity, and their drawings seemed to represent an attempt at identifying with these efforts. Yet, the reality in this room was different.

Of the 19 community radio managers and news directors, not a single one was a woman.

IREX has never underestimated the enormous challenge in its work to promote gender equality and equity in Liberia, a patriarchal society where centuries of traditions have propped up a culture of male dominance. But while these efforts and others alike may be slowly gaining traction in urban cities, the situation in rural areas, where most community radio stations are located, may be different. Here, people still observe strict cultural practices that seem to affirm male control over women, and that is reflected in the set up at many community radio stations.

Of the more than 50 community radio stations across Liberia, only one has a female manager. Of an average staff of 15, many stations have only two women. This creates a situation where women’s issues are under-covered and where men dominate the airwaves as quoted sources of news. Even when women’s issues are covered, they often lack depth, showcasing the lack of understanding of the complexities of the issues. CSML’s latest Media Content Analysis report affirmed this by noting “women’s voices are absent from the airwaves.”

Community radio managers acknowledge the disparity, but insist it is due to the lack of willingness on the part of women to work in the sector. However, some of the few women who work in the sector say their male managers and colleagues often fail to acknowledge their contribution and fail to recognize their potential or capacity. Privately, some managers admit that local culture has influenced their treatment of women journalists and their reluctance to recruit more.

The Gbarnga gender awareness training was just one of several ways CSML is working to change minds and attitudes. Through its partner, the Liberia Women Media Action Committee (LIWOMAC), CSML also works to train and mentor women at some partner stations in an attempt to build their capacity and encourage them to stay.