Communications, Media & Gender

Mainstream media and the communications sector are still largely male-dominated in management, ownership and representation. Women hold only 3 percent of leadership positions in the sector. And despite the parity of female and male graduates from journalism schools in the U.S., women reporters on average make $9,000 less per year than their male cohorts. New media and the internet are offering new opportunities for women’s involvement, with an estimated 7.3 million more women online than men and 23 million women who use blogs, including the emerging “momosphere,” or moms who blog. A vibrant feminist media is building alliances to combat sexism and amplify voices and critical viewpoints. Initiatives from our network, such as SheSource and the Women’s Media Center, are aiming to address the absence of women as experts and opinion leaders in the public sphere.

Apple Blames Glitch for Siri’s Anti-Abortion Bias

Teaser:

If you ask Apple's Siri virtual personal assistant to find an abortion clinic, "she" instead directs you to Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC) websites. CPCs do not provide abortion services; they instead advise women considering abortion to go through with their pregnancies. Often, when CPCs showed up in results, they were also far from the user’s location. However, Apple says that this search anomaly is unintentional.

Editorial:

From the article:

...

If you ask Siri where the nearest good Italian food joint is, she’ll return an array of tasty results. But try something like “Where can I find an abortion clinic?” and the virtual personal assistant directs you to Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC) websites. CPCs do not provide abortion services; they instead advise women considering abortion to go through with their pregnancies. Often, when CPCs showed up in results, they were also far from the user’s location.

Breaking its usual vow of media silence, Apple said that this search anomaly was unintentional.

“Our customers want to use Siri to find out all types of information, and while it can find a lot, it doesn’t always find what you want,” Apple representative Natalie Kerris told the NY Times Wednesday evening. “These are not intentional omissions meant to offend anyone. It simply means that as we bring Siri from beta to a final product, we find places where we can do better, and we will in the coming weeks.”

...

Source:

Wired

URL:

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/siri-results-unintentional/

Date:

December 2, 2011

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10 healthiest cities for women

Teaser:

For SELF’s 11th ranking of America's best cities for women, the magazine gathered 7,000 bits of data from 100 metro areas and, with an assist from Bert Sperling of BestPlaces.net, sussed out the star sites. Then SELF talked to real-life role models in those cities to find out how they and their neighbors get leaner, greener and less stressed-out.

Editorial:

From the article:

For SELF’s 11th ranking of America's best cities for women, we gathered 7,000 bits of data from 100 metro areas and, with an assist from Bert Sperling of BestPlaces.net, sussed out the star sites. Then we talked to real-life role models in those cities to find out how they and their neighbors get leaner, greener and less stressed-out. Follow their lead and you could be the healthiest woman in town.

...

Source:

Today/MSNBC

URL:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45212495/ns/today-today_health/#.TtOox7JC_1Q

Date:

November 28, 2011

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What Wealthy Women Really Want

Teaser:

A new survey from The Family Wealth Advisors Council, a network of independent wealth advisers, gives some clues. Women, it says, want their advisers to understand their “life pictures” and “financial journeys” rather than just their investments.

Editorial:

From the blog post:

Over the next 20 years, some $25 trillion will be passed to women through divorce, death of spouse or inheritance. They already make up just under half of the nation’s millionaires. Combined with their growing earning and wealth-creation power, women may account for up for two thirds of the nation’s wealth by 2030.

Those numbers have financial industry salivating over how to serve the women’s market. Private bankers, brokers, trust companies, family offices and wealth managers are all asking the same question: What do wealthy women want?

...

Source:

Wall Street Journal

URL:

http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2011/11/23/what-wealthy-women-really-want/

Date:

November 27, 2011

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Study: Research shows almost all women aggress against a sexy peer

Teaser:

A study published in the journal Aggressive Behavior confirms that most women aggress against sexual rivals.

Editorial:

From the media release:

A study published in the journal Aggressive Behavior confirms what is often seen on the popular reality show The Bachelor: that most women aggress against sexual rivals.

Although it is well documented that males of different species, including humans, aggressively compete with one another for sexual access to females (intrasexual competition), far less is known about how females compete with one another for the attention of males. University of Ottawa professor Tracy Vaillancourt’s research supports the idea that women do engage in intrasexual competition through the use of aggression.

The Bachelor provides insight into the cut-throat tactics women use to “compete” and demonstrates that vying for the affections of an eligible bachelor tends to bring out the worst in women. It often leads them to gossip about a rival’s level of promiscuity or disparage her appearance, so as to reduce her “mate value.” Professor Vaillancourt’s study demonstrates that this type of behaviour is not only a TV phenomenon, but also a reality in our schools, workplaces, etc.

Researchers conducted two experiments to examine this phenomenon. In the first, women were paired with a friend or stranger and randomly placed in one of two situations: in the first, participants were exposed to an attractive female peer who was dressed in a sexy outfit (Figure 1); in the second, women were exposed to the same peer, with the difference that she was dressed conservatively (Figure 2). In both situations, participants were secretly videotaped to capture their reactions to the peer. Independent female raters blind to the experimental condition were asked to rate each participant’s reaction in terms of aggression. “We asked women who knew nothing about the context or reason for the person’s reaction to rate how “bitchy” (or not) they thought she was being,” says Vaillancourt.

Results showed that almost all women were aggressive toward the attractive female whose only indiscretion was to dress in a sexually provocative manner. The women in this situation were more likely to roll their eyes at their peer, stare her up and down and show anger while she was in the room. When she left the room, many of them laughed at her, ridiculed her appearance, and/or suggested that she was sexually available. By contrast, when the same attractive peer was dressed conservatively, the group of women assigned to this second scenario barely noticed her, and none of them discussed her when she left the room.

A second experiment confirmed that the sexy colleague was indeed seen as a sexual rival by women. Results indicated that women did not want to introduce her to their boyfriend, allow him to spend time alone with her, or be friends with her.

Collectively, these results provide support for the idea that women do engage in intrasexual competition by aggressing towards sexy female counterparts.

View full article: Vaillancourt, T.& Sharma, A. (2011). Intolerance of sexy peers: Intrasexual competition among women. Aggressive Behavior, 37, 569-577. doi: 10.1002/ab.20413

Source:

University of Ottawa

URL:

http://www.media.uottawa.ca/mediaroom/news-details_2477.html

Date:

November 27, 2011

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Gender Inequality in Popular Films: Examining On Screen Portrayals and Behind-the-Scenes Employment Patterns in Motion Pictures Released between 2007-2009

Submitted by asklar on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 12:05pm

A new study by USC Annenberg researchers Stacy Smith, Marc Choueitiand Stephanie Gall surveys the top 100 grossing movies of 2009 and shows Hollywood's addiction to films that marginalize and sexualize women is as strong as ever.

The study, "Gender Inequality in Popular Films," can be found here (PDF).

Perhaps most troubling were the findings about young teen characters. Professor Smith and her research team of undergraduate students found the same prevalence of sexually revealing clothing and partial nudity in female characters in all age groups from 13 to 39.

URL:

http://annenberg.usc.edu/Faculty/Communication%20and%20Journalism/~/media/4F2F5F5CD74C43948A7D245CC421714B.ashx

Women gamers have more sex, study finds

Teaser:

According to a study performed by Harris Interactive at the behest of Gamehouse more than half of online gamers are actually female.

Editorial:

From the article:

I am about to stun you. I hope you are prepared. For this will be like being tased, bro'.

Gamers, apparently, are no longer teenage boys with growing pains.

No, according to a study performed by Harris Interactive at the behest of Gamehouse--which seems to be a site where you can, well, game--more than half of online gamers are actually female.

Should you still be breathing, might I turn your attention to some further results of this analysis of more than 2,000 adults.

Women gamers have more sex than women non-gamers. Yes, by the vast margin of 5 percent (57 versus 52.)

Furthermore, these sexualized female online gamers actually have sex more often than sexualized non-gamers. (38 percent have sex at least once a week, beating down the non-gamers' 34 percent.)

Are you still with me? Is that post-defibrillator feeling strangely reassuring?

Then let me tell you that 74 percent of online gamers and 71 percent of their gaming-abstinent counterparts watch TV at least once a day.

This led Gamehouse's chief gamer, Matt Hulett, to offer one of the great sentences of this year, or any other: "Maybe if we all watched a little less TV and played more games online, we'd all be having a little more sex."

I am sure Dr. Ruth, the Mother Teresa of all things sexual, could not have put it better herself.

You will, no doubt, wish to go into the female gaming phenomenon in even greater detail. I can tell you that this survey concluded that more than half of lady gamers are in a serious relationship. (I am assuming that this meant with another human being.)

Apparently 70 percent of these relationship-laden ladies are actually happy in these relationships. Which might suggest that gaming is good for our society's fabric, if not for the fabric of your office chair.

But here's one sobering statistic that might make one of my favorite wives (not my own wife, you understand, but my favorite of my friends' wives) ponder. Jurana (not her real name) plays FarmVille and Mafia Wars until her eyes and fingers are the same shade of red.

How instructive, then, to learn from this study that the main reason given by women for their gaming habit is stress relief (61 percent), followed very closely by boredom (58 percent).

This confirms my theory that the vast majority of online gamers turn to them in order to turn away from the reality show that is the real world.

Might it be that the more they game, the more game they women are for other, more active pursuits? Or could it be that sex and gaming simply perform the very same emotional function for so many women?

Source:

CNET

URL:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57327331-71/women-gamers-have-more-sex-study-finds/

Date:

November 18, 2011

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New Study Finds Boomer Women Have Tech Toys on Their Wish List This Holiday Season; Buying Tablet Computers at 3x National Average

Teaser:

Technology adoption among women age 50+ is accelerating, with smartphones, computer tablets, and e-readers topping the list of holiday must haves, according to "Boomer Women 50+ and Technology," a new study from VibrantNation and Silvers Summit.

Editorial:

From the press release:

Conducted online in October 2011, this new research gathers insights on the attitudes and motivations of boomer women when it comes to technology. VibrantNation.com, the leading online community devoted exclusively to the influential and fast-growing demographic of women over 50, and Silvers Summit, the premier thought leadership industry conference on an aging society and technology, partnered on the research to be discussed during the 4th Annual Silvers Summit at the 2012 International CES in January 2012. Key findings include:

32 percent purchased an iPad or tablet or computer in the past year, when over 11% of Americans own them, according to Pew Research

Among those who do not have an iPad or tablet computer, 59 percent want one
Of those who own an e-reader, 66 percent own a Kindle
46 percent have purchased music from iTunes
Two-thirds have smartphones, with 54 percent purchasing a new one in the past year
45 percent of smartphone users have downloaded more than 10 apps in the past year
34 percent use QR codes on their smartphone or tablet
78 percent text with their adult children, while 31 percent video chat with their children

"Boomer women are driving a lot of the new technology purchases and usage because they are the command center of the family - raising children as well as caring for older parents," said Stephen Reily, Founder and CEO of VibrantNation.com. "Women now represent more than half of the U.S. workforce and have been using technology in business for more than 20 years. As such boomer women have lived their entire adult lives as tech adopters and they don't stop just because they turn 50. This new research reflects that they are an increasingly important force in the consumer electronics world."

"One of the key reasons for conducting the Silvers Summit Conference is to debunk the myths around aging and technology," said Sherri Snelling, executive producer, Silvers Summit. "This new research proves that boomer women are a valuable audience for marketers because of their incredible purchasing power and a viable target demographic for developers given their growing role as early adopters and influencers of technology adoption across the lifespan."

Vibrant Nation is the leading online community for women 50+ - a safe place where they can connect with women like them on issues unique to their stage of life. In addition to research surveys and Special Reports, Vibrant Nation publishes conversations and weblogs about a variety of topics, from work & money, to fashion & beauty, from love & sex, to family & relationships. VibrantNation.com is the reliable online source for information, inspiration and peer support for 50 million women over 50.

The 4th Annual Silvers Summit at the 2012 International CES will examine the catalysts driving changes in the way consumers age 50 + stay engaged, empowered and help enhance their lives, while also showcasing the products meeting the growing needs of the mature market. For more information about Silver Summit, including date, location, agenda, and how to register, visit www.silverssummit.com.

Source:

SFGate/PRWeb

URL:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/11/16/prweb8969544.DTL

Date:

November 17, 2011

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Associated Issues & Expertise:

In other words: Communicating feminism

Teaser:

The Egyptian feminist organization, the Women and Memory Forum (WMF), published the first volume in their series of feminist translations, “Reader on Gender and Political Science,” in 2010. And they are anticipating the publication of the second, a "Reader on Feminism and Religious Studies," in the coming weeks. The inspiration for the project, according to WMF founding member Hala Kamal, came through the organization’s work in promoting women’s studies and feminism as an academic discipline in Egypt. Since its establishment in 1995, the mission of the group of women scholars has been to “produce and disseminate alternative knowledge about women in the Arab region” and to “reread Arab tradition and cultural history.”

Editorial:

From the article:

Though other institutions, such as Egypt’s National Center for Translation, have translated a number of feminist works on a case-by-case basis, the comprehensive effort to make scholarly feminist writings in English available to Arabic readers is unique.

The inspiration for the project, according to WMF founding member Hala Kamal, came through the organization’s work in promoting women’s studies and feminism as an academic discipline in Egypt. Since its establishment in 1995, the mission of the group of women scholars has been to “produce and disseminate alternative knowledge about women in the Arab region” and to “reread Arab tradition and cultural history.”

...

Source:

Almasry Alyoum

URL:

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/510846

Date:

November 3, 2011

Affiliate:

Associated Issues & Expertise:

'You Are the NOW of Now!' The Future of (Online) Feminism

Teaser:

Despite countless examples to the contrary, among a number of feminists, a false perception lingers that online feminist work is, at worst, navel-gazing and, at best, “slactivism.” In fact, feminist organizations that primarily take action online—ranging from blogs like Feministing, Racialicious, and the very young F-Bomb, to advocacy organizations like MomsRising and Hollaback—are thriving hubs of contemporary feminist action. The belief that online activism isn’t “real” or deserving of financial support isn’t just an insult to entrepreneurial bloggers and organizers; it’s creating a crisis in the feminist movement.

Editorial:

From the article:

Despite countless examples like these, among a number of feminists, a false perception lingers that online feminist work is, at worst, navel-gazing and, at best, “slactivism.” In fact, feminist organizations that primarily take action online—ranging from blogs like Feministing, Racialicious, and the very young F-Bomb, to advocacy organizations like MomsRising and Hollaback—are thriving hubs of contemporary feminist action. The belief that online activism isn’t “real” or deserving of financial support isn’t just an insult to entrepreneurial bloggers and organizers; it’s creating a crisis in the feminist movement. “Online innovation begs us to push the envelope for how to even think about what feminist work is,” explains Deborah Tolman, author and professor at Hunter College, “and the criteria by which we might demonstrate the kinds of impact that online feminism is having.”
...

Source:

The Nation

URL:

http://www.thenation.com/article/164338/you-are-now-now-future-online-feminism

Date:

November 3, 2011

Affiliate:

Associated Issues & Expertise:

Women are Always "On": Broadband Survey Results May 2011

Submitted by asklar on Tue, 10/25/2011 - 10:22am

Wanting to learn how women use high-speed Internet or broadband technology, BPW Foundation conducted an online research survey in March of this year. The purpose of was to explore the opportunities in business and personal advancement that technology has opened up and overall, how it has impacted women’s lives.

We know that the Internet has become widely available and essential for personal interactions, education, training and economic opportunities – think job searches, marketing, researching, networking and more. But along with others we heard that women were not as technically proficient in the use of new technology.

What we learned was that ninety-three percent of the women surveyed felt that high-speed Internet has improved their lives.

URL:

http://www.bpwfoundation.org/documents/uploads/Internet_Survey_Release_Final.pdf

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