UNFPA Armenia and Pro-Media Gender NGO Presented the “Woman’s Image in Armenian Media” Study Results

On 9 December 2011, at UN House, UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, and Pro-Media Gender NGO presented the results of the “Woman’s Image in Armenian Media” study, within the framework of "16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence" 2011 campaign.

The event speakers were Mr. Garik Hayrapetyan, UNFPA Assistant Representative, Ms. Tamara Hovnatanyan, Chairperson, Pro-Media Gender NGO, Ms. Lilit Zakaryan, Expert, Pro-Media Gender NGO, and Mrs. Jina Sargizova, UNFPA “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence” campaign coordinator.

As the speakers noted, the study was conducted by Pro-Media Gender NGO with support of UNFPA Armenia. The purpose of the study was to examine woman’s image as portrayed by the Armenian media, in respect with overcoming stereotypes regarding the role and place of a woman in Armenian society.  

The duration of the study was three months, from March 1 to June 1, 2011. Overall, around 450 issues and 30,000 publications from six periodicals (three newspapers and three internet news agencies) were monitored, namely “Hayastani Hanrapetutyun” (“Republic of Armenia”), “Aravot” (“Morning”), and “Azg” (“Nation”) dailies, and “News.am”, “A1+”, and “Panorama” news web sites.

According to the study findings, despite the fact that 73 per cent of publications are authored by women, 86 per cent of people represented in the media are men, and only 10 per cent of the total information flow is provided to women. At the same time, the most important factor affecting the number of publications devoted to women is not the so-called “women’s month” (from March 8, International Day of Women, to April 7, Armenian Motherhood and Beauty Day), but rather the occurrence of news attracting events with participation of women. In the study period, the top ten of most frequently mentioned women is led by Parliament Member Zaruhi Postanjyan. She is followed by the former US Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovich, RA Minister of Diasporan Affairs Hranush Hakobyan, Parliament Member Anahit Bakhshyan, and others.

The “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence” is an international campaign that runs from November 25 to December 10, International Human Rights Day. The brutal murder of 14 Canadian female students in 1989 triggered creation of two global campaigns: 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence and the White Ribbon Campaign. Since 1991, more than 3,700 organizations in 164 countries have participated in the 16 Days Campaign. The campaign has been held in Armenia since 2001.

Download the study factsheet