Shrinking communicative space for media and gender equality civil society organizations

Abstract

This study explores pressures on civil society organizations (CSOs) that promote gender equality in and through the media. By using cases from five countries- Cyprus, Ethiopia, Hungary, South Africa and Spain, this study maps out the different ways in which media and gender equality CSOs are experiencing shrinking in the communicative space in which they operate at national contexts and leapfrogging to transnational communicative spaces. Through semi-structured interviews with women holding decision-making positions at five well-established media and gender CSOs and a review of the legal environment the organizations operate within, this paper identifies several intersecting challenges facing the case study CSOs. These include financial constraints, legal restrictions, persisting cultures of prejudice and stereotyping towards feminism and women’s rights, and limited political back up. The study indicates that the implications are far-reaching and difficult to estimate if the challenges remain unaddressed.