CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.7 COMMUNITY RADIO, WOMEN & GOOD GOVERNANCE ISSUES
The CM sector, particularly CR can serve as a best platform for community engagement, empowerment, development and creating unceasing dialogue among community members. Women for instance, have been previously disadvantaged and misrepresented in the mainstream media platforms, as a result the CR sector has proven not to be the best platform for different groups to engage about relevant issues with their community context (Molefe, 2008). The ground breaking work of women empowerment through CR was presented in the Best Experiences for Action Research conducted by the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) in 2008.
In the years 2006 and 2007 AMARC hosted a number of seminars on women and good governance through CR. During the sessions much awareness was put on emphasising the knowledge sharing in grassroots issues such as poverty reduction, water management and education (AMARC, 2008). On the same note, a workshop was held at the World Social forum in 2007. Women from Africa, Asia and both the Americas deliberated on their personal experiences in working for CR. Among key issues women identified ways in which CR helps empower rural women, below are highlights as noted by Dery (2008:19) that community radio:
“Serves as means of preparing women for political positions; is a learning and training ground for women; it is a change to excise rights to be heard and participate in governance; and leadership for different groups including women; it is a means that help women articulate women’s issues”
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Molefe (2008) asserts that CR in South Africa is used to empower previously disadvantaged and margined groups in socially developing societies. The sector is identified as a “perfect tool” for empowering rural women. The following uses of CR are suggested as key in women empowerment (Molefe, 2008:50);
I. CR should be used to position women in strategic positions to allow them to participate in governing community media organisations. Women’s participation in governance will influence the development of policies and practices favourable to women.
II. The platform should be used to allow express their views and opinions instead of having men trying to articulate what they think women want. This can be achieved by getting women actively involved in the production and reporting of radio programmes on women’s issues.
III. CR should also educate and provide information specifically relevant to liberate women from male dominance and abuse, as well as sharing information on women’s success stories that could encourage the majority of women to move away from abusive relations.
IV. CR should engage labour unions in their programming in discussing issues that affect women in the workplace. Through the CR the women’s voices can be heard by workers unions.
V. CR should also encourage women in parliament to advocate women related issues and share developmental plans for women in order to encourage gender equality.
Ideally, the above suggestion could assist CR in addressing women’s issues however, they do not adequately address gender as an issue in the media. There are issues on lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people that are still not adequately addressed. It is encouraging that there is progress in advancing women empowerment however, addressing gender will have to go just beyond women and include people with diverse sexual orientation and gender identities (SOGI), men included. Women empowerment and active participation in the media can be seen as a step forward in gender mainstreaming and in the process of correcting gender stereotypes.
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Since 1994, the South African government has increased various opportunities through legislature and policy to support and encourage women to participation in social activities (Molefe, 2008). Policies such the employment equity act make provisions for previously disadvantaged women to have equal access to job opportunities as opposed to traditional and typical low-level positions such domestic, cleaning, and of lately security duties. Molefe (2008) presents an argument on a few issues that are believed to hamper with the rapid empowerment of women listed below:
Location of the majority of women
Most South African women live in remote rural areas with no infrastructure to facilitate development (Source?). Places such as Ga-Molepo in the Turfloop areas, Thokwaneng in Ga - Maja and many others are examples remote areas that disadvantage women’s access to a number of opportunities.
Access to employment by women
In the past women were denied opportunities including academic access as such, creating a platform where women are just not subjected to strict employment obligations.
Poverty and lack of financial assistance
Since most women as based in rural remote areas, financial assistance and poverty are some the challenges that hinder with women’s advancement in gender issues.
Lack of confidence and support in women by women
In the past women were seen as inferior to men and were mostly marginalised in activities could have empowerment them socially in life. For instance, women were not considered in the army, peace and security (DeGroot, 2004) resulting in women obliged and relegated to family based responsibilities. As a result, most women lack confidence in leadership positions and the process of gender mainstreaming to could assist in this regard (Mitchell, 2004).
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