#Breakthebias message addresses role of media in gender equality
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A roundtable hosted by the World Council of Churches and the World Association for Christian Communication released a message on 8 March that addresses the role of media in a world striving for gender equality: “News that represents women and men accurately and fairly strengthens our understanding of our communities”
A roundtable hosted by the World Council of Churches and the World Association for Christian Communication released a message on 8 March that addresses the role of media in a world striving for gender equality.
The roundtable was held on International Women’s Day, which this year has a theme of “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,” summed up by the social media hashtag #Breakthebias.
The message prayed for a world free from bias, stereotypes and discrimination.
“In line with the 2022 theme, #BreaktheBias, today we met together online to consider the role of media in a world striving for gender equality,” reads the message.
“Media in its broadest sense – our news, entertainment, advertisements, social media platforms – play a pivotal role in defining who we are as individuals and as a society.”
The message notes that, all around us are real-world consequences of media that promote stereotypes and discrimination.
“But media can and has been a powerful force for justice and equality,” the message reads.
“News that represents women and men accurately and fairly strengthens our understanding of our communities.”
Entertainment and advertisements that challenge stereotypes and attitudes can positively impact relationships and identities, the message notes.
“And communication platforms that take responsibility to protect individuals from abuse and online violence can emphasize the message that behaviour online has offline consequences,” the message reads.
“In this age of social media, we all bear responsibility for promoting and using our media channels to reflect the world we want to see and live in.”
Read the full #Breakthebias message.
First published on the World Council of Churches website on 8 March 2022.
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