Fewer women than men in the news

“Media play a decisive role in shaping our opinions and how we view the world and each other. Gender-equal representation goes hand in hand with the objective of the gender equality policy sub-goal on equal distribution of power and influence,” says Josefine Jacobsson, Advisor at the Swedish Gender Equality Agency.

Sweden performs better than average

The global average shows 26 per cent women in the news. In an international comparison, Sweden performs well with 37 per cent women represented. However, the Swedish findings also show that experts and spokespersons are predominantly men. One third of the politicians interviewed in Swedish news are women, despite the fact that women make up 43 per cent of elected representatives in municipalities and regions, and 46 per cent in the national parliament.

“Giving space to more voices is about expanding freedom of expression. Only when women’s voices are given the same prominence as men’s can the media claim to reflect reality,” says Agneta Söderberg Jacobson, National Coordinator for GMMP at the Fojo Media Institute.

Progress has stalled

Several Swedish newsrooms have introduced routines and monitoring tools to achieve gender balance. Despite individual successes, the overall picture shows little progress. Five years ago, when the study was last conducted, women accounted for 38 per cent of those appearing in Swedish news.

“News that reflects a broader range of perspectives not only promotes fairness in journalism, it also improves journalism. Including more voices widens the narratives, highlights more societal issues and increases credibility. And purely commercially, it reaches more people,” says Maria Edström, Associate Professor of Journalism at the University of Gothenburg.