WOW- A Women in Media Talk
On Tuesday the 21st of February 2017, a ‘Women in Media’ presentation was held at Gumley House School, where sixth form pupils told students aged 14-16 about the WOW (Women of the World) conference they had attended, and asked students to give their own opinions on the portrayal of women in the media, and how they are presented in contrast to males. This presentation also included a guest speaker from the Fawcett society who showed us examples of the portrayal of women in the media in this modern day.
The Fawcett society is an organisation that campaigns for women’s rights, and the inspiring guest speaker told stories about her experience as growing up as a girl in this generation, before she answered some questions us students had about women’s rights and women in media.
After the question and answer panel, an interactive activity was held, where students were allowed to browse through magazines and chose headlines and articles that they believed misportrayed or criticized women. Then, girls were invited up to the stage, give their opinion on the article, and suggest their own opinions on what the headline or article should contain.
Presentations such as this one are important in this modern day as they help empower girls and show them how they can be portrayed as vulnerable and weak in comparison to the way men can be seen in media. It can also be a great boost to self-esteem and show young girls that they should be proud of who they are.
By Prisca Romano-Stuart, Gumley House School.
