Gender, Journalism and Equity

This analysis of the journalism profession is unique in that it uses gender as a central explanatory variable, it is comparative, and it explores the impact of equity legislation on the profession in North American and Europe. The book's systematic focus on gender not only as a biological, but as a socially constructed attribute permits the author to address the systemic biases that are inherent in the social reproduction of the journalism profession. A gender approach can clarify the minority status of females in the profession and why there is a difference in the access, promotion, and remuneration between female and male staff. More importantly, the gender approach is able to pin-point the more intangible networks of male power, which exist outside the authority structure. Finally, this approach provides evidence of the difficulties females encounter in functioning in managerial roles.