Let us hear you roar! - 8 Mar 2010

Today, 8 March 2010, marks International Women's Day. Men may question it's celebration, crying foul that they in turn do not have a special day, but here is what I've always maintained: women have been striving for gender equality and the same human rights that their counterparts have been born with since the beginning of time. In many parts of the world that struggle continues, so women do deserve a day to celebrate the freedoms their predecessors have won for them.

While I sit comfortably at my desk feeling very secure in my position as editor of Bizcommunity Africa, women in the media in various parts of Africa still struggle to be recognised as worthy employees in patriarchal companies where they are considered inferior and ill-suited to particular positions. According to the 2010 Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP), women constitute less than a quarter of those interviewed, heard, seen or read about in mainstream broadcast and print news, but there has been slight headway made with an increase since 1995 to 24% of stories including women.

It's clear that the world has a long way to go before gender-equality in the media is accomplished but it must be noted that it requires a necessary mind-shift from both sides - men and women. You are woman; now let us hear you roar!