Data and Denial Fuel Women’s Underrepresentation in News Media 

We’ve all heard the tale of the tortoise and the rabbit, where the moral is that “slow and steady wins the race.” But when it comes to gender equality, the women, like the tortoise , are still struggling to even get close to the rabbit. The stark underrepresentation of women in the media—whether as journalists, panelists, or leaders—is a glaring injustice, much like an unfinished Marvel movie with an unsatisfying cliffhanger. 

In the 1970s, women began to enter the field of journalism and mass media, gradually progressing from desk jobs to newsrooms, and eventually to field roles. Some even reached leadership positions—a development worth celebrating. However, the progress has been embarrassingly slow, much slower than the tortoise in the fabled race. 

The GMMP 2020 report shows that women represent about 29% of news subjects and 35% of news presenters. Other reports indicate that women make up slightly more, around 30-35%, of the overall media workforce. In comparison, in the USA, 40% of journalists are women, but only 22% reach higher editorial positions. In Asia, countries like South Korea and Japan have made minimal progress in advancing women to higher media positions. A study by UN Women, conducted alongside the GMMP, reveals a troubling drop in women serving as spokespersons, from 15% to 8%. The report notes, and I quote, “Women’s roles as news subjects, spokespersons, experts, eyewitnesses, or voices of popular opinion have sharply declined, except as narrators of personal stories.” 

The struggle for women to reach higher positions remains deeply entrenched and troubling. Despite the frequent glorification of progress, women occupy only 20-24% of senior executive, CFO, and editorial roles. The situation in mainstream media is grim, with even fewer women in top positions, and regional media is virtually non-inclusive. Reports from the Global Media Monitoring Project, International Women’s Media Foundation, UNESCO’s Gender and Media report, and Women in Journalism paint a disheartening picture. The progress, if it can be called that, is painstakingly slow and shows no real signs of accelerating. 

The world order was established in 1945, with organisations created, mandates published, and orders issued. Yet, what remains unchanged are the stereotypes and preconceived notions about women. It is astonishing that despite numerous efforts and considerable concern, tangible progress on the ground remains elusive for all the simple reasons: 

Hypersexualised Image: Women in the media industry have been wrongly portrayed through a narrow and restrictive lens of beauty, slim physique, and youth. This stringent adherence to specific standards for women, more so than for men, creates personal discomfort for many women in the media and has a lasting social impact. 

Societal and Stereotypical Pressure: While it may sound outdated and some might dismiss it as playing the “women’s card,” the persistent issue of societal expectations and stereotypes is significant. Women, especially at certain stages in their lives, often struggle to balance both home and work responsibilities, as they are expected to manage both. This expectation is a major reason why many organisations hesitate to promote women to higher positions, fearing potential issues with productivity or delays. 

Workplace Culture: The media industry is often known for its 24/7 work environment, but for women, it can be particularly misogynistic, sexist, and toxic. This is highlighted by the well-known interview of Palki Sharma Upadhyay, a renowned journalist and anchor, in which she discusses her experiences. Her conversation with Sumita Prakash exemplifies the challenging and often hostile workplace culture faced by women in the industry. 

Most decisions are made unofficially by the predominantly male heads, often in informal Car o Bar. This environment makes it difficult for women to participate effectively. Consequently, some women, despite their experience and potential, either voluntarily withdraw from consideration or are sidelined by upper management. Despite mountains of data and endless analyses of countries, organizations, and committees, progress remains agonisingly slow, like the tortoise struggling to reach halfway through the race.It’s glaringly evident that women—who make up nearly half of the global population—are still woefully underrepresented, holding less than 30% of positions in the news media. This stark imbalance underscores the fact that gender equality in the media is being treated as a trivial concern. The struggles of women in the media industry are relegated to a file on an officer’s desk, gathering dust, and ignored day after day. It’s high time to confront the uncomfortable truth: the systemic neglect of women’s representation is a glaring failure that demands immediate attention.