Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Gender and Media Coverage of Professions in Cameroon
Mr. Petagou Blaise
ABSTRACT:
The notion of gender remains a representation, a socio-cultural construction. In Cameroon, a number of female professionals are emerging, notably in mechatronics, electronics, metalwork and public transport by motorbike and taxi. The audio, visual and written media coverage of these occupations raises two epistemological issues: the promotion of the female gender in so-called male occupations, and special support for women on the basis of their voice, age, physical appearance, family situation or maternity. It has been methodically observed that when reporting on the structures during working hours, while men are called by their surnames, women are called by their first names or any other pseudonym that is deliberately flattering. The aspects of WASH did not take into account women’s intimate needs but was not shown. This is a kind of vulnerability, added to the fact that they are assigned few tasks and cannot speak with authority at work. This accentuates the negative preconceptions that society has of women. As a result, the media do not accurately convey reality, but rather interpret it in a rather subjective, sexist way. That is why technologies or media of power are characterised by their inertia, and resistance to change is their strength during their work.
keywords: authority, occupation, sexist, vulnerability