Ensuring of gender equality is not a simple social policy, but a strategy for economically developing the country. Studies show that in a state where gender equality is high, the GDP per capita is also high. The topic was discussed in a roundtable meeting themed “Role of the mass media in covering women’s participation in public life,” IPN reports.
Director of the newspaper “Ziarul de Garda” Alina Radu said that she often wonders why there are few expert women in the press as the students are mainly women. “Corruption in Moldova has the face of a man, while studies show that the corruption index is lower where gender quality is ensures,” she stated.
Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga said the mass media play an important role in managing public policies. She called on the journalists to equally cover the events involving women and men.
Alexei Buzu, executive director of the National Women’s Studies and Information Center “Partnership for Development”, said the Moldovans’ perception of the women in politics has changed. But studies reveal that not many voters would now prefer a woman as MP or as head of state. The women are more often chosen as mayors or local councilors, if the voters know the person for whom they vote.
Studies also show that the women without children in Moldova take a job more often than the men. But in the case of women with children of preschool age, the employment rate decreases drastically. “Many say that there are no impediments for the women to actively become involved in politics and businesses, but the ensuring of equal chances does not always mean equal treatment,” said Alexei Buzu.
Petru Macovei, executive director of the Independent Press Association, said a number of media outlets were monitored to see how they ensure gender equality in their materials. They write more often about men, even if most of the authors of the materials are women. The Association recommends the journalists to more often focus on women experts from different areas, not only in areas that are strictly related to women’s occupations, and to ask for men’s opinions about such issues as growing up of children, education and others.
As many as 25 media outlets signed the commitment to ensure gender equality in their publications. All the national media organizations are invited to subscribe to the commitment.
