adminLocadia Karimatsenga Tembo.
These women did not make the headlines for initiating big business contracts or serious mining deals with foreign investors. Those who did not sympathise with Tracy Mutinhiri’s demise when she was expelled from her party were given acres of space to express their opinions in the media. The man who was involved in the car accident that resulted in the arrest of the three women on allegations of rape and the accident itself never became news.
The media followed every movement made by the three “suspected female rapists” for weeks on end.
The cameras were also zoomed in on Deputy Minister Thokozani Khupe’s weight gain and later, on her fight against breast cancer.
Most Zimbabweans did not know about Ms Locadia Karimatsenga Tembo’s business prowess until the day when all local newspapers decided it was appropriate to make her a daily headliner in December last year.
Typically, there is hardly news on the work done by Honourable Beatrice Nyamupinga in her Goromonzi constituency, but the media were happy to report her relationship to Ms Tembo, who is reportedly involved in a controversial love affair with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. The media coverage of women in Zimbabwe is best summarised by a 2011 study by the Media Monitoring Project, MMPZ.
“The report illustrates that women remain at the periphery of news, either appearing in limited roles or simply invisible,” said the report.
In the cases that they appeared in the media, they were generally presented in narrow range roles, such as domestic workers, beauty contestants, office workers and housewives, while men were identified as being religious leaders, politicians and businesspeople among other prestigious and diverse roles.
In addition, it said women were portrayed in an inhuman and degrading manner as illustrated by “Wife has pimples on genitals” (H-Metro 14/4); as perpetrators and agents of moral decadence, such as prostitution and promiscuity (“Wife caught pants down”; “SA-based man finds wife under tobacco farmer” and “Sick footballer’s wife cheating” (H-Metro, 15/4, 7 and 17/6).
They were also portrayed under semi-nude pictures, which perpetuate blatant stereotypes that portray women as sex objects, as secondary citizens, largely used only as secondary sources of information and as merely victims of violence and homemakers.
They were also portrayed in limited and restrictive roles, relegating issues adversely affecting women to the distant background and that the media are less receptive to the successes of women than men.
It is an undisputed fact that the media plays an important role in shaping perceptions and influencing the public conception on issues including gender roles and responsibilities.
Whilst the Government has made efforts towards attaining a gender sensitive society through the gender machinery, the gender policy and accenting to various regional and international gender protocols, the media seem to be undermining those efforts by denigrating the women’s confidence and downplaying their achievements. Whilst women may have their shortfalls, there is certainly a lot that they have brought to the table.
Their invaluable contribution to society is undervalued and mostly overshadowed by the negative publicity they get from the media. This calls for all media practitioners to memorise Article 30 of the Sadc Protocol on Gender and Development, to which Zimbabwe is a signatory.
It states that state parties shall encourage the media to give equal voice to women and men in all areas of coverage, including increasing the number of programmes for, by and about women on gender-specific topics that challenge gender stereotypes.
Political parties must also take measures to discourage the media from degrading or exploiting women, especially in the area of entertainment and advertising, and undermining their role and position in society and reinforcing gender oppression and stereotypes.
Whilst there may be various reasons to explain all the negative media attention given to women, it is important to consider the impact of that coverage on the way women are perceived.
It is unfortunate that the few female practitioners in the media have not flexed their muscles to stop the Press from publishing stories that humiliate women.
What is even sad is the deafening silence from other women, some of whom cannot wait for the next copy of H-Metro to feast on the unfortunate news of their neighbour’s fall.
In fact, there are some female neighbours or friends who would rather tip off the H-Metro crew of their friend’s escapades than give them constructive advice.
This experience spells more implications for women beyond the she-deserved-it factor, and the sooner we look past our self-righteousness and assess what we are collectively losing as women the better.
Apart from women’s solidarity, Government efforts and institutional transformation, the attainment of a gender sensitive society calls for widespread media support as stipulated in the country’s National Gender Policy, 2004.
l The Zimbabwe Women’s Resource centre and Network is an Information based organisation advocating for gender equality and equity. Your feedback is welcome through email to [email protected] or call on +263 4 700250/252388, or visit our website, women’s voice blog, Twitter and Facebook pages through www.zwrcn.org.zw
Online Reporter