17 Aug 2016 Mexican Women Challenge Media Stereotypes

Project participants and project facilitators during a workshop. Photo Credit: La Sandia Digital

In Mexico, the
portrayal of women in the media is marked by stereotypes; women are rarely
portrayed as active subjects with a positive influence in their own
communities.

In this context, WACC partner La Sandia Digital equipped 20 women from
different parts of the country with the tools and skills to tell their own stories. The project was designed to  enable participating women to engage in dialogue, work together to promote human rights, share strategies for
social organization, and begin to challenge stereotypes in the media through gender-sensitive content. 

Project Highlights

• 20 women from the
  states of Mexico, Chiapas, Colima, Mexico City, Guerrero, Michoacan, Morelos,
  Nayarait, Oaxaca, Queretaro, and Tlaxcala participated in a series of training
  workshops organized under three axis: using digital tools (with a special focus
  on audio, video, text, photography, and radio production training) to tell
  stories; disseminating content; and strengthening networks. The trainings were
  held in Mexico City, Amecameca (State of Mexico), Amilcingo (State of Morelos),
  and Puebla (State of Puebla). The workshops became spaces marked by solidarity and trust.

• The project resulted in
  the production of media content (features, chronicles, podcasts, personal stories) from the perspective of women and using gender-neutral language. The
  content can be accessed by visiting this website: http://vocesdemujeres.mx/. Content was
  disseminated through the use of different media and technological tools
  available in the communities, as well as through social media.

• The project was carried out in partnership with other civil society groups:Social TIC A.C., Luchadoras, and Agencia Subversiones.

• Many of the participating
  women reported feeling more valued in their communities and feeling more
  empowered as a result of their participation in the project.

For more information about this project, please contact Lorenzo Vargas, Pathways to Digital Frontiers programme manager, at LV@waccglobal.org