Women's Studies Institute Hosts Forum on Popularizing Gender Equality in Media

The Women's Studies Institute of China along with the Media and Women Development Research Center of the Communication University of China co-hosted the Forum on Mass Media and Popularizing Gender Equality, which included a talk on the attitudes towards women in comedy sketches.

Many attendants agreed that heated public discussions over discriminatory content against females in the media reflects a great concern over the social climate towards women and a push for awareness over equality and rights.

Gender equality increasingly demonstrates a country's civilized manner to the rest of the world. Discriminatory attitudes in the media only serve to tarnish the image of China on the international stage, especially in the age of increasing openness and widespread cross-border exchange.

Therefore, mass media should comply with relevant laws and moral norms while fulfilling its social responsibilities of popularizing the idea of gender equality and promoting harmonious relationships between men and women, it was suggested.

Efforts must also be made to avoid stereotypes of women and promote the empowerment of women and other minority groups, according to attendees.

In addition, it was proposed that officials should further improve relevant laws and regulations and reinforce their supervision on relevant channels; media outlets should strengthen their own self-discipline and attach importance to gender equality in programming and job training. Universities and institutions also need to add courses concerning gender equality.

Furthermore, women’s social groups and other organizations should monitor mass media outlets and initiate dialogues conducive to gender equality.

Tan Lin, member of the Secretariat of All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), chaired the meeting, with a total of 40 attendants including scholars and experts from six institutions, working staff from 10 media outlets and officials from the ACWF.

Tan Lin, member of the Secretariat of All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), chairs the forum on March 10. [wsic.ac.cn/He Yanrong]

Forty attendants including scholars and experts from six institutions, working staff from 10 media outlets and officials from the ACWF join the discussions at the forum. [wsic.ac.cn/He Yanrong]

Forty attendants including scholars and experts from six institutions, working staff from 10 media outlets and officials from the ACWF join the discussions at the forum. [wsic.ac.cn/He Yanrong]

(Source: wsic.ac.cn/Translated and edited by Women of China)