GENDER DISPARITY IN REPRESENTATIONS OF WOMEN IN BROADCAST STATIONS IN BENIN CITY

This study investigated gender disparity within the broadcast media sector in Benin City, with a focus on examining the representations and career progression of women across various professional roles. Guided by the Social Role Theory, the research employed survey method to gather data from selected broadcast stations, including NTA, EBS, ITV, and Silverbird. The sample size for the study was 97 female media practitioners derived using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table for sample size determination. The study aimed to identify the ratio of women to men in media positions, analyze the gendered representation of voices in broadcast content, assess how gender biases influence promotion and pay levels, and uncover the barriers affecting women’s career advancement. Findings revealed that women were significantly underrepresented across all major roles including presenting, newscasting, managerial, and reportorial constituting roughly one-third of the workforce, while men held the majority (33.7% women, 66.3% men). Male voices dominated high-profile and authoritative segments (61.4%), while female voices (38.6%) were largely confined to soft-news and lifestyle programs. Gender biases were evident in promotion patterns and pay structures, with men more likely to ascend to leadership positions and receive higher salaries. Barriers such as family responsibilities (30.1%), societal expectations (33.7%), traditional gender roles (24.1%), and inadequate workplace policies were also identified as limiting factors for women’s advancement. The study recommended the implementation of gender equity policies, mentorship programs, supportive family-friendly workplace policies, and regular gender audits to foster a more inclusive media environment. These measures are crucial for dismantling structural barriers and promoting equal representation of women in broadcast media leadership and content creation in Benin City