A study of the representation of men and women in the media.

Abstract

Abstract This study investigated the representation of men and women in the media. The main research question was: "How are men and women represented in the media?" Studies have shown that the portrayal of men and women in the media is not balanced, in that men are shown as professionals while women are shown as home makers. The study used a mixed method approach and the data collection instruments included content analysis, a survey, as well as interviews. The population included: daily newspapers, users of the media and journalists with editorial positions. The study incorporated stratified and purposive or judgmental sampling techniques. The sample size for questionnaires was 80, while for newspapers, it was 24. That of media practitioners with editorial positions was 4.The study used content analysis and Microsoft word to analyse data. The study's findings were that men are often portrayed in categories such as professionals, politicians, leaders, legal practitioners, criminals, economic sphere as well as in the sports category. Women on the other hand are often portrayed as home makers, victims, and as sex objects. The study also fow1d that as reporters, men dominated in most media organisations and female journalists mostly covered soft news compared to male journalists who mostly covered hard news. The study also.found that representations in the media influence the way men and women are treated in society.