Sexist Treatment of Women in Montenegrin Media

The language used by the media in Montenegro make the women invisible in public life, in violation of the media legislation, concluded the gathering in Podgorica on the implementation of �Gender Correct Language in Montenegrin Media�. The round-table discussion, intended for editors-in-chief and editorial staff in the media in Montenegro, was organized by the �Zenska Akcija� (Women Action) NGO and the Montenegro Institute for the Media.

Snezana Burzan, prominent journalist, said that the analysis of print media in Montenegro proves the discriminatory and sexist treatment of women, as well as the prominent myzogynist view that reduces the women to mere objects. She emphasized that certain media refrain regularly to abuse and instrumentalization of women and female bodies in advertisements.

Burzan emphasized that journalism has turned into primarily female profession over the past several years, and yet, only a fraction of them hold editorial and decision-making positions.

Speaking of gender sensitive language, she said that, with the exception of several media outlets, the media in Montenegro don�t use gender sensitive language. The women in the media are addressed differently in different cases, and the correct gender sensitive address is used only with professions such as singer, cleaning lady or actress, while professions such as president, minister, director are mostly reserved for male gender forms.

"Instead of acting as pure mirrors of traditional social and cultural patterns, the media should be far more sensitive of women and gender issues, especially ni their role of mediators of changes inside the patriarchal society�, said Burzan.