Women in Media are fighting back against gender inequality
Women in the Media are expressing their frustration after gender equality issues have been put under the spotlight.
Lisa Wilkinson is one of many females who has been discriminated against because she is a woman, with channel nine refusing to pay her the same amount as her co-star Karl Stefanovic.
Australian radio presenter, Fran Kelly said: “There is a gender pay gap and it is so disappointing that the gap hasn’t closed… I think it was good that Lisa left because it raised the issue and it is hard, I mean I’m a senior woman and I still find pay negotiations terrifying.”
Women have had enough of being classified as lower than men and want the working landscape to change so that everyone is entitled to equal pay no matter their gender.
Sex discrimination commissioner, Kate Jenkins said: “The pay gap is even wider in the media industry so for people working in print and advertising, the gap is 23.3% and that’s an average and in broadcasting its 22.2%.”
The lack of transparency around wages in the media industry has contributed to this pay inequity to grow overtime, as many jobs where the pay is well known have a much lower pay gap percentage.
“Those numbers are unacceptable and all businesses should undertake a gender pay gap and fix it rather than justify the circumstances which warrant women to be paid less,” Jenkins said.
With Women in Media at the forefront of this movement, they don’t only aim to remove the pay gap, but they want to present a more realistic representation of women on television and radio.
Broadcast executive and producer, Anita Jacoby said: “I think things are definitely changing, but we still have quite a long way to go because these stereotypes are hard to shed… we’re seeing a much more diverse range compared to say the early 90's… audiences don’t just want the young pretty women on TV, they want to see themselves so I think we’re in a very exciting time.”
She is one example of a woman using her voice to change the world. She is Angelena Bonet and this is HER story.
