Ahmed Bajoaim – Women in Development and Peace
The media is a cornerstone in shaping public opinion and conveying information. It represents an effective tool in highlighting and focusing on societal issues. It plays a pivotal role in shedding light on the importance of women and their role in higher education and academia, especially in Yemen, given the social and cultural challenges women face in this largely traditional society.
Moreover, media contributes to breaking social barriers by raising awareness about women’s capabilities in various fields, including higher education and academia. It also encourages more girls to pursue their studies and achieve their aspirations by attaining high academic achievements.
Yemeni media is no longer just a window for displaying current events represented by news of conflict. It has become an influential platform in shaping public opinion and changing societal perspectives. In this context, the vital role it plays in highlighting the success stories of Yemeni women and breaking the stereotypes that have long surrounded them is evident. The media empowers Yemeni women and inspires future generations by shedding light on their achievements in various fields, particularly education and academia. This report will highlight the role that these media outlets and digital platforms play for women.
The Role of Media and Platforms
Media outlets provide a platform for female academics to express their opinions and experiences, and exchange ideas with the public. This is achieved by raising issues women face in academia, such as balancing work and family life, discrimination in promotion, and others. These outlets also aim to support policies that empower women by covering programs that support them in academia, such as postgraduate scholarships, training programs, and employment opportunities. Some of the media tools that can be used for this include television reports, interviews, radio programs, and journalistic and analytical articles about the role of women in academia, in addition to social media.
The editor-in-chief of Aden Al-Ghad newspaper, journalist Fathi bin Lazraq, explained that under the difficult circumstances Yemen is going through, Yemeni media should play a major role in supporting women’s participation in higher education and academia, and work to ensure they do not drop out, whether in rural or urban areas.
He pointed out that the armed conflict has significantly impacted women’s access to higher education courses within universities and institutes. Therefore, the media bears a significant responsibility in promoting women’s participation in higher education and presenting possible solutions to the challenges they face in reaching the highest educational levels.
He added that, in light of the lack of sufficient government support, the media shoulders a crucial responsibility in keeping the flame of education lit, especially for Yemeni women. It is an effective tool for social change and can play a vital role in promoting the value of education among girls and motivating them to continue their studies in all university disciplines, which will positively impact the local community.
Journalist Abdul-Rahman Anis, a professor at the Faculty of Media, University of Aden, emphasized that various media outlets, especially journalists, have a prominent and influential role in society. This is achieved by promoting social awareness about the importance of women’s access to higher education and academia, whether as students, researchers, or employees within academic circles.
He pointed out that the media has a role in highlighting successful and distinguished female role models who have made remarkable progress in postgraduate studies in scientific and rare disciplines, describing them as honorable role models serving the local community. Additionally, media outlets and journalists must focus on the importance of the role played by the Ministry of Higher Education and universities in facilitating girls’ access to and enrollment in postgraduate studies and universities, while addressing the challenges and solutions.
In the same context, media professional Aya Khalid, specializing in humanitarian issues, indicated that the media’s role lies in raising community awareness about the importance of women’s education, especially in such difficult circumstances. This involves empowering them academically in various courses and disciplines that serve their communities and working to raise awareness among parents in the first place and within society, which still believes that women do not have the right to complete their academic and educational journey.
She emphasizes that women have the right to reach the highest scientific ranks and positions in academia, as well as compete for job opportunities, as they are worthy of any position or task entrusted to them, and there is ample evidence to support this. Therefore, media outlets and various platforms must showcase positive role models and success stories of women who have reached the highest levels of higher education.
Media and Community Awareness
Bin Lazraq reminds us that women constitute half of society, and if the media can convey this fundamental idea effectively and impactfully to all members of society, then all sectors within the community will believe that women should be present at all levels, including higher education and academia.
He explained that women’s role in academia is extremely important, especially in senior positions within the academic sector in universities, health and scientific institutes, educational and religious centers, and others. Therefore, the media must lead society towards supporting women, qualifying, educating, and pushing them forward towards scientific progress, especially in the academic field.
Anis points out that diverse journalistic materials – news, reports, investigative pieces, or success stories – contribute significantly to supporting women’s issues in academia. The more journalists and media outlets continuously highlight women’s successes in academia without interruption, the more positive the impact on society will be. This creates a significant incentive for women and girls toward greater empowerment and passion in the future.
Media and Challenges
“Yemeni media faces significant challenges in raising community awareness about the importance of women’s education, particularly in academia, due to the exceptional circumstances the country is currently experiencing. One of the most significant challenges is the armed conflict, which is destroying media infrastructure, restricting freedom of expression, and making reaching the audience difficult and costly.” This was stated by journalist Ibtihal Muhammad.
She further explained that the difficult economic conditions have impacted the media’s ability to continue operating and provide adequate coverage of women’s issues in higher education and academia. Additionally, the illiteracy rate remains high in Yemen, especially among women in rural areas, which makes raising awareness even more challenging. This is compounded by some customs and traditions that downplay the importance of women’s education.
She added, “Some censorship bodies still impose restrictions on media freedom, preventing the publication of certain news and information that would help enhance the role of women in academia.”
Journalist Fathi pointed out that Yemeni media faces numerous difficulties, especially with the ongoing war entering its tenth year. Most media outlets have shifted their focus towards the conflict’s objectives between the warring parties, becoming influential actors in the conflict. This has negatively impacted the true role of these outlets, which should ideally focus on other areas such as women’s and children’s rights, achieving social peace, encouraging girls to pursue academic and scientific endeavors, and other humanitarian and social issues.
On the other hand, journalist Anis believes that no significant challenges are impacting Yemeni media. Certain Yemeni regions have media outlets dominated by customs, traditions, and social norms, particularly in rural areas that restrict women’s roles in all fields, including higher education. Conversely, in some governorates and cities, the media faces no social challenges that diminish its role in addressing women’s issues. These areas grant ample space and freedom to media and journalists to highlight women’s issues, especially in academia, discuss them, and find solutions to enhance their presence in this domain.
Proposals and Solutions
The media’s role in raising community awareness about the importance of women’s role in higher education and academia remains crucial. Overcoming these challenges can be achieved by collaborating with international and local organizations working in the field of women to provide joint awareness programs. Utilizing modern technology, such as social media, to disseminate awareness messages and reach wider segments of society is also vital. Additionally, providing training programs for journalists to empower them to cover women’s issues professionally and ethically is essential.
For his part, Bin Lazraq offered some solutions to enhance the role of media, particularly regarding women in academia. He emphasized the importance of pushing media outlets towards a positive role concerning conflict resolution, women’s education, and supporting women’s meaningful participation in peacebuilding. This is crucial because Yemen needs media support that is balanced and focuses solely on societal issues.
He continued, “There are pressing social issues, including women’s issues, which the media must highlight extensively by discussing them, finding solutions, and developing fair remedies. They need to shape public opinion around these issues and exert societal pressure to contribute to achieving tangible progress in addressing all women’s issues, including those in academia.”
Meanwhile, Anis highlights the importance of encouraging journalists and media professionals to focus on humanitarian and social issues, including women’s education in higher education and academia. Unfortunately, most media outlets and journalists tend to favor political and economic programs and topics. Additionally, it is the responsibility of relevant organizations and institutions to support programs that address women’s issues and highlight their role in academia and higher education.
Future Plans
“We need a government plan that contributes to enhancing women’s presence in academia. If there is no plan and no effective government role in this aspect, the media’s role will not be effective or significantly impactful on society. Therefore, the importance of developing plans for the media lies in the government’s orientation towards women’s presence and participation in higher education and academia,” according to Bin Lazraq.
He stated that if all relevant sectors, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the Ministry of Human Rights, take future steps to establish a supportive government mechanism for empowering women academically, the media will have a positive impact on the reality of women in academia in Yemen.
Dr. Anis adds, “Plans to enhance the role of media include improving the reality of higher education. It should allow girls to enter scientific disciplines that have become restricted to specific groups, such as medicine, engineering, and other scientific fields. This involves simplifying procedures, reducing fees, and highlighting girls’ achievements in this area.”
The media can effectively contribute to changing stereotypical perceptions and fostering appreciation for women’s contributions to higher education and academia. The continuity of these media efforts can serve as a powerful motivator for ambitious girls to enter the world of higher education and achieve academic success, ultimately leading to greater gender balance in this active sector.