Using Media as a tool for Gender equality promotion

Nowadays Europe enjoys the equality of women and men before the law more than ever. Through the media we see more women taking decision-making roles in our social and political life. Nowadays it is difficult to underestimate the role of Media in achieving the fundamental value of gender equality. Having a great role in society, the Media definitely affects the perception of gender and acts as one of the main tools for "gender stereotyping". In 2013 the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe stated that “gender equality means equal visibility, empowerment, responsibility, and participation of both women and men in all spheres of public life, including the media". Though having a big potential in promoting gender equality, in Europe media still acts as a tool that creates and maintains gender stereotypes. In the neighboring partner countries, we see an even worse picture. Though these countries also share the main European values, in local realities we see lots of Gender-based Inequalities. In South-Eastern countries, even the physical violence rate against women is much higher. The oppressors bring excuses for their violation with phrases "to show the woman her place", "man should be a man". That image is mainly generated as result of the absence of adequate education and the influence of the society through all types of media. It is well-known fact that teenagers and youngsters often take as role models the images, that are created by the Media. At this sensible age, youngsters often don't want to think critically and adapt the role models for different genders without questioning them. We are sure that youth workers or even educated youth are able to change the situation. We want to act and bring positive changes in our societies taking a special focus on media. The main aim of this Training Course in Vienna is to increase awareness and provide youth workers with proper knowledge about gender issues and perspectives of European and project countries media. Different scale of activities as simulations, role-plays, group activities, discussions, presentations, field visits will give 24 participants from 6 countries an opportunity to re-explore the concepts of gender and sex, gender stereotypes in the media of EU and Neighboring countries and etc. Our aim. With this Training course, we aim to increase awareness and provide youth workers with proper knowledge about gender issues and perspectives of European and project countries media, so enabling them to work on gender-related projects.