Representation of Women in the Media

bristol | media and culture | announcement Wednesday September 10, 2008 18:16 by BFN women_inthemedia at yahoo dot com

Bristol to undertake national research

Volunteers are needed to help with a research project between 15th Oct - 15th Nov in Bristol. Groups and individuals wanted!

Participants will be investigating the ways in which women are represented in the media. You can choose your own area of research or join a group already investigating a particular issue. We are looking at print media, film, TV, online media, radio... anything! It is a very open brief and you can sign up for as much or as little as you like.

Please get in touch if you are interested in participating or just finding out more.

Does this image represent women in the media?

Between 15th October and 15th November Bristol Fawcett Society and the Bristol Feminist Network are undertaking a research project into the ways that women are represented in the media. The findings will be submitted to Just Media, ahead of their UK campaign launch.

The aims of this research are to raise awareness and to provoke debate and action in response to the way that women are represented in the media.

Some people feel that women are still being misrepresented, that negative and unrealistic images of women out number positive, real representations by the media. But we have little evidence to draw on.

We can assume that, for instance, the Daily Sport will carry far more representations of women in a sexual context than women as mothers, professionals, valued community members etc. We are pretty sure that on an average day we will be confronted with far more images of undressed women than undressed men, but without evidence it is difficult to address this misrepresentation.

This is a great opportunity for groups and individuals in Bristol to participate in research which will be used across the country to work towards fair, more equal gender representations.

We are looking for volunteers to take on 30mins, 1hr, 1 day , 1 month actions. You would be very welcome to join a group already researching a particular area, or to choose your own issue to research. We are looking at print media, film, TV, online media, radio... It is a wide open brief and we are looking forward to finding out the answers to such questions as:

* What is the ratio of women to men newsreaders who are over 40?
* How many films out this month were directed by women?
* Are there more models in women's magazines or lad's mags?
* What percentage of women in TV adverts are larger than a size 8?
* Which newsagents display publications with front page pornographic images on their stands?
* How many DJs are female? How does R4 compare to R1?

When all our findings are in we will be collating them as a body of research to be used nationally, but also presenting them creatively in exhibition in Bristol. So you may want to present your findings graphically as a collage of press cuttings, in video, in artwork , as an audio documentary or an exhibition of photos.

For inspiration, check out some research undertaken in 2007: http://www.bristolfawcett.org.uk/MediaRepresentation.html

To get involved and discuss ideas join the facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33173793437

and come and meet us on one of the following dates:

Tuesday 16th September
Cafe Kino
9 Tree Hill, stokes Croft
7pm
Meeting to learn more and choose a question to research.

Tuesday 7th October
Hen & Chicken
Bedminster
7pm
Participants meet to confirm topics and groups and get ready for the research period.

Saturday 15th November
St Werburghs Community Centre
12-6pm
Meet to collate and discuss findings. Consider future action and set up the exhibition.

16th - 23rd November
venue tbc
Exhibition of findings