‘Media Plays a Role in Women Empowerment’

(PIA) — Professional experts in their field and government representative agreed that positive change and progress in the status of women is also attributed to media.

In a recent Association of Government Information Officer-Philippine Information Agency (AGIO-PIA 7) forum on the “Role of Media in Women Empowerment”, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) regional information officer Leah Quintana, Cebu Citizen Press Council assistant executive director Cherry Lim, and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas legal counsel Atty. Cynthia Barte all agreed that there are many powerful women who now stand for their rights.

Atty. Barte said that issues involving women are now fewer compared to previous years.

“Gender-related problems are experienced before and after, but lesser at present. Women before are treated mediocre, but now women are empowered,” Barte said.

She added that women have already exercised a better position in terms of media exposure.

Leah Quintana also noted the changes in the status of women at present, acknowledging the role of media in it.

“At present women have changed and media is also influential to the status of women now, because media raises issues affecting women and helps women express themselves, their issues, concerns, needs and rights,” Quitana stressed.

Cherry Lim also expressed changes in the status of women who are members of media.

“When we talked about media there is a big change. In the past, all media outlets are male-dominated but now, five print media outlets have Editors-in-Chief who are women,” Lim declared.

Also seen is the positive thinking of women now towards education, and how it could help them.

“Statistically, there are many women who are educated,” Barte noted. (rmn/ays/PIA-7/AGIO-7)