Gender & Media & Democracy

We encounter gender inequality everywhere. In media, in communities, in small groups, on the way to walk home, and so on. It is already interwoven with our daily life. Most of the time, we do not even realize it. Because even though gender issues might come up with some big visibility, most of the time they are subtle. It’s in people's gestures, it’s in their mimics, it’s there in our rights. We can say that gender inequality reproduces itself through people. That is, through major channels such as the media, gender inequality can reproduce itself or change its content in a positive context. It is entirely in the hands of the people. But we always encounter advertisements in which women are commodified. Or with series where women are addressed as stereotypes. Maybe talking only about women would be an insult to other minority genders. Because it is not only about women, it is about everyone who is not a heterosexual white male. If you do not meet these criteria, it will become increasingly difficult to find your representation in the media.

Nowadays, concepts like body-positivism and gender equality, are getting more pointed out. Each day passes, people can find more platforms to express themselves freely. Because the discussions are constantly continuing. And as big brands didn’t want to lose their consumers, they started to change their language and context in order to reach everyone. One can say this change made media more accessible and democratic but it also shouldn’t be forgotten that these might be trends. Nevertheless, nowadays, when gender inequality discussions can be held comfortably and have various consequences & impacts, people have more comfort in speaking about their representation in the media. And this makes the media more monitorable, changeable, and democratic.