Students challenge journalism education with gender equality solutions

As the AWiM 2022 conference came to an end, the last few panels to place in Fes, Morocco. One of them was a panel supported by Fojo Media Institute which looked at media and journalism education concerning gender equality.

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Students from across Africa, who are active and vocal about dismantling gender inequality in the media and educational institutes, shared their research on issues they want to tackle.

The panel was supported by Fojo Media Institute, a Swedish organisation strengthening the sustainable development of media around the world. They have international programmes which support the learning of aspiring media professionals in African countries such as Rwanda, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Some of which the students at the African Women in Media (AWiM) conference panel represented.

To uncover the key challenges and solutions each student presented in their talk we have listed three speakers:

Ethiopia

Mulu Zelalem, a masters’ student at Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia was the first speaker on the Fojo panel. She spoke vividly about the challenges female students face in higher education institutions in the country.

One of the main issues was sexual harassment.

At the same university she is studying for her masters, 35 per cent of female students reported that they were sexual harassment survivors in studies from 2013 and 2015.

“Female students are harassed by lecturers or their peers and so indirectly and directly they face challenges within the institution,” she explains.

She also speaks on how there is also a concern for the underrepresentation women receive in education, media and communications: “ The majority of female students that enrol leave their studies early and commonly you find that they are studying journalism and media degrees, this then leads to case lower representations of women in the media.”

With the feeling of insecurity and trauma in the educational system due to sexual harassment, GBV and discrimination from gender stereotypes, Mulu believes female students feel they have no other option but to leave education despite their career dreams.

Outside of journalism, this is a growing concern affecting multiple sectors: “Sexual harassment is an issue that has become the main reason why females are not participating in certain roles in social, cultural, and political departments,” the communications student told attendees.

The decision to leave these spaces becomes a form of survival for young females and subsequently reveals the level of neglect women receive in institutions.

Previous research by Alem Habtu on women’s higher education in Ethiopia highlighted how there are fewer females than males at every level of the educational system in the country.

Although the Ethiopian Higher Education Proclamation introduced a new education and training policy which declares: ‘Special attention will be given to women and to those students who did not get educational opportunities,’ the master student among other researchers believes this is not enough.

“Different affirmative action is important in higher education to achieve higher results regarding equal equality,” Mulu urges, “We need to have effective gender policy implementation systems and improve the sustainability of women’s empowerment projects.

She adds: “Increasing awareness and knowledge can also be very impactful to reduce sexual harassment and gender stereotypes.

Through implementing these solutions, the panel speaker can envision more positive representations of women and the achievement of gender equality in the media from the educational level to the industry level.

“Higher education also plays a significant role in advancing gender equality but also many gender issues” – Mulu Zelalem

Morocco

Asmae Nachit a second-year masters student from the University of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah shared on the panel about the research she had done on the gender education gap in Morocco.

She first highlighted how the key factors causing gender inequality in Morocco are poverty, discrimination, child marriage and illiteracy.

Ms Hanane who spoke on the first day of the AWiM conference at the Misogyny in Moroccan Society panel explained the challenges women face in the country when it comes to education: “In Morrocan rural areas, women are not even allowed to access education due to patriarchal views being upheld in family settings.”

Majoring in Applied Linguistic studies and research in Higher Education, the masters student believes everyone has a right to education.

“Education is a human right that should not be negated because everyone should be entitled to learn,” She adds, “It empowers people by giving them the ability to think critically, develop and realise their potential and also learn about the world.”

Yassine Azzioui, a fellow masters student at the same university, shared the floor with Asmae to give insight into the role different mediums play.

Through his research, he found that stereotypes regarding gender roles in textbooks, advertisements, print media and films are still conditioning negative perceptions in society.

“All of this contributes to the stereotypical images we see about men and women,” he states, ”Women are still relegated to secondary positions and given marginal roles in movies and books.”

The student expressed to attended how learning about gender studies at university has allowed him to question what is taken for granted and what needs to be done to achieve equality for all genders.

“I believe, universities and everyone should take initiative and help raise awareness about gender issues.”

His peer, Asmae shared the same sentiment…

“Educational institutions have a massive role to play when it comes to fighting against gender stereotypes and unequal practices”

Rwanda

Shifting away from curricular studies and focusing more on extracurricular activities, two university students from Rwanda, Felix Uwimana Hirwau and Charlene Furaha urged the importance of gender clubs in the fight against gender inequality.

President of a Gender Club at the University of Rwanda, Felix shared how meeting with other students has been fruitful in shifting mindsets: “Gender clubs help to encourage, empower and engage people, especially girls who we want to ensure feel they are part of this future.”

Last year, the AWiM Co-founder, Dr Yemisi Akinbobola went to Rwanda to give training to university students as part of gender clubs.

Students have since learnt how to report on gender issues with equality in mind, and how to communicate effectively using different media forms including radio. They have also built interview skills which they have used to speak to people living in rural communities to share gendered stories and create awareness.

Charlene Furaha who represented her club – MKUR Gender Club at Mount Kenya University Rwanda, is thankful for the knowledge and experience it has given her: “I am empowered, to speak here today and that is because of gender clubs,”

She continued: “Thanks to gender clubs we can find solutions to reach peace, and synergy with everyone, girls and boys, women and men.”

Historically gender clubs have been used in different parts of the world such as America and Europe since 1906. The clubs reached Africa in 2006, starting hubs in Zambia, Liberia, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda and many more.

Felix and Charlene joined their first gender club at the University of Rwanda in 2021. Since then they have been transforming the way they and other students view gender.

According to the Gender Index Gap 2022, Rwanda is now in the top 10, taking its place as the sixth country with 81.1 per cent closure of the gap between women and men.

Although this is progress to applaud Charlene urges it’s not the end of the fight: “We should not confuse progress with movement.”

She believes education is required more than ever to continue the positive changes happening across Africa and the wider world.

“Education provides knowledge, training and skills and inculcates new thoughts and attitudes among the young,” Charlene expressed as she closed the duo’s presentation.

“We do not have a masculine future, we have a future of togetherness” – Felix Uwimana Hirwau