'Under One Roof'
Gender, Media and Democracy
This training manual is a result of the Women's Media Watch Media monitoring and Media Literacy Project 'Under One Roof', which has been running for three years. It is a project which brings together media activists, media trainers and media producers and has been implemented by our Media Monitoring Group.
South Afria is in a transitional phase from a repressive apartheid system to an egalitarian democratic one. Entrenched attitudes need to be challenged in order to uproot the old ways of thinking and doing, thereby paving the way for a non-discriminatory society. The media has the potential to play a meaningful role in this process by shifting the paradigm around who and what is newsworthy, and by reporting and entertaining in ways that recognise the diversity of the people of the country.
However, the media in South Africa has lagges behind in the process of transformation. While the South African Constitution envisages a future that is non-racist and non-sexist, the media has not taken this vision to heart.
Women make up more than half the population, yet they are not portrayed by the media in ways that show their diverse contributions to society. Gender stereotyping also remains rife. The way media
portrays men and women and construct masculinities and femininities has negative impacts, especially on women's self-esteem, as well as on their chances of being taken seriously in society.
Media consumers need to be trained to challenge and change the media. Community media producers also need to be trained to interact with the so-called mainstream media consumer in order to report from their point of view. Such a process will enable the role players to engage with each other in a positive way. Consequently, this will increase the amount of gendered production.

Getting Smart:
strategic communications for gender activists in Southern Africa
From the first cry of a newborn baby, to the last words that a person utters before they die, our lives revolve around communications. So basic is the need to be heard and understood that sometimes we forget just how complex this is. The possibilities for a breakdown in the chain that involves deciding on a message, choosing the best way to convey it, getting a response and processing the feedback are endless.
The more complex the issue is, the greater the possibilities for a breakdown. Gender equality challenges centuries of socialization, compounded by such "untouchables" as culture, custom and religion. At best the traditional, mainstream and community media have failed to play an active role in promoting gender equality; at worst they have perpetuated gender stereotypes. New information and communication technologies (NICTs) could be a powerful tool for change. But they also contribute to women being turned into commodities and to the backlash against gender equality in the ultimate of "free" zones: cyberspace.
Understandably, a frequent response among activists is to get frustrated. But that is a road to nowhere. Instead of getting angry, we need to get smart. We need, as Zimbabwean communication expert and director of Africoms Titus Moestabi puts it, to start understanding the science, as well as the art of communications.
This manual is based on the following principles:
A systematic approach to communications is essential for all civil society organisations (CSOs).
Networking among CSOs is no longer a "nice to do". It is essential to maximizing impact.
The need for a vibrant gender equality movement across Southern Africa that talks to each other, undertakes joint campaigns, monitors and evaluates their impact.
Giving women and men equal voice is essential to democracy, good governance and accountability.
Consumers are not just passive recipients of information but active players in shaping what they receive, how they receive it, and how they use it.
Think globally, plan regionally, act locally.
Communications is fun!