Retratos de género nas notícias televisivas: uma análise das desigualdades por detrás da representação numérica

Abstract

Este trabalho de investigação parte de uma reflexão sobre os diversos estudos que têm evidenciado as assimetrias de género nas representações mediáticas e a “aniquilação simbólica” do papel das mulheres na esfera pública. Considerando que o ideal de democracia participativa pressupõe, entre outras coisas, a inclusão equilibrada de vozes femininas e masculinas, e tendo em conta a importância e credibilidade dos media noticiosos enquanto arena do debate público, optámos por centrar a nossa análise nos jornais televisivos das três principais emissoras em canal aberto – RTP1, SIC e TVI. Para este efeito foi desenvolvida uma grelha de análise que foi aplicada a um conjunto de 1764 notícias televisivas durante o período de um ano. A metodologia utilizada foi desenhada com vista a analisar as representações sociais de género no que se refere a papéis sociais e relações de poder na esfera pública. Na análise dos resultados obtidos verificámos que a atual retratação de mulheres e homens nas notícias televisivas tem contribuído para a reprodução e manutenção de estereótipos de género que tendem a associar o género masculino ao trabalho, à produtividade e ao poder; e as mulheres a papéis da vida privada, situando-as maioritariamente nas margens da esfera pública.

This research is based on a reflection on the various studies that have highlighted gender asymmetries in media representations and the "symbolic annihilation" of women’s roles in the public sphere. Considering that the ideal of a participatory democracy assumes, among other things, the balanced inclusion of female and masculine voices, and taking into account the importance and credibility of news media as a public debate arena, we have chosen to focus our analysis in the television news programs of three main broadcasters – RTP1, SIC and TVI. For this purpose, we have developed a coding grid which was applied to a set of 1764 television news during a period of one year. The methodology used was designed to analyze gender social representations with regard to social roles and power relationships in the This research is based on a reflection on the various studies that have highlighted gender asymmetries in media representations and the "symbolic annihilation" of women’s roles in the public sphere. Considering that the ideal of a participatory democracy assumes, among other things, the balanced inclusion of female and masculine voices, and taking into account the importance and credibility of news media as a public debate arena, we have chosen to focus our analysis in the television news programs of three main broadcasters – RTP1, SIC and TVI. For this purpose, we have developed a coding grid which was applied to a set of 1764 television news during a period of one year. The methodology used was designed to analyze gender social representations with regard to social roles and power relationships in the public sphere. In the analysis of the results obtained we have verified that the current portrayal of women and men in television news has been contributing to the reproduction and maintenance of gender stereotypes that tend to associate the men to work, productivity and power; and women to private life social roles, placing them mostly on the margins of the public sphere.