Press Releases
Women's Commission forum examines media's gender biases
The following is issued on behalf of the Women's Commission:
Representatives from women's groups, service agencies and interested members of the community shared their experience and exchanged views on gender biases or stereotyping in the media and advertisements at an open forum this afternoon (December 6).
Organised by the Women's Commission, the forum "A Close-up on the Media through Gender Perspectives" was part of the Commission's public education and gender mainstreaming programmes in promoting greater gender sensitivity and awareness, as well as reducing gender stereotyping and community prejudices against women.
The forum gave various sectors an opportunity to look into whether women have been presented in a biased manner in the media and advertisements, and the impact of such biases or misrepresentation of women and other sectors of the community. Participants also discussed whether there was a need to initiate changes in the relevant sectors and organisations, and roles that different parties could play to address the issue.
Concerns have been expressed by non-governmental organisations from time to time regarding media programmes, advertisements or news stories which portray women in a biased manner or use women in a commercial manner to attract attention and boost sales.
"The Women's Commission is concerned about the possible negative impact such biased messages and advertisements would bring to the community, and we believe that this issue should be addressed," Mrs Sophie Leung, Chairperson of the Women's Commission, said.
The Commission is mindful of the importance of the freedom of the press and expression, which the Government and the community are committed to upholding, as well as the need for creativity and innovation.
"Any attempt to address this issue must be done with great care and sensitivity, with the preferred approach of public discussion and understanding of the issues involved," Mrs Leung added.
"I also wish to take this opportunity to call on all sectors and members of the community to reflect on the role they could play to help build a culture of mutual respect and independent judgement. The Commission looks forward to working closely with different sectors and organisations on the issue."
A Women's Commission member, Professor Fanny Cheung, acted as the facilitator in the forum.
Representatives of women's groups, academia, media and the Administration were invited as panel speakers to share with the participants their perspectives, work and experience on the matter.
They were: Internal Vice-Chairperson, Association for the Advancement of Feminism, Ms Amy Yuen; Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Hong Kong, Dr Ng Chun-hung; Chairperson, Hong Kong Journalists Association, Ms Cheung Ping-ling; Acting Director (Operations), Equal Opportunities Commission, Mr Joseph Li; and Principal Entertainment Standards Control Officer (Content Regulation), Television Entertainment Licensing Authority, Ms Rose May Li.
Ends/Saturday, December 6, 2003
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