Why?

only

23%

of reporters on national daily newspapers in the UK are women

24%

only

of news subjects across global news channels are female-oriented

6%

only

of news content

challenges gender stereotypes

only

17%

of all directors, writers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the top 250 domestic grossing films last year were women

‘Only if we have this broad spectrum of voices within the media can we truly understand our societies’

– Yalda Hakim, BBC World News International Correspondent and GGM UK Ambassador

Why do we support girls?

According to the United Nations, how a nation treats its women is directly linked to how democratic that society is. Girls and women are still under-represented not only in the media but also in the political sphere. Girls – particularly girls of colour – report feeling left out of the political process.

Last year 87% of films in the UK were directed by men, yet film schools are proportionally 50/50 (Source OneinFive.) Why the drop off? Why, when in film school the mix is equally men and women, are so few women represented in the media industry at the higher levels of creativity and responsibility?

Could it be because of some of the inherently discriminatory practices still widespread in our society?

Despite the Equal Pay Act 45 years ago, women still earn less than men in Britain today. According to the Fawcett Society, there are 4 main causes of the inequality:

Discrimination. It’s illegal, but women are frequently paid less than men for the exact same job;

Unequal caring responsibilities. Women continue to shoulder the greater share when it comes to caring for children, the sick and the elderly at home, which puts them at a disadvantage in the workplace;

Uneven labour market. Many more women than men are hired in low-skilled, low-paid jobs, such as in the leisure sector, where 80 % of employees are females;

Men in Senior Roles. Men continue to dominate the highest paid, most senior roles. For example, just 5% of CEOs in the FTSE top 100 are women.

With so much stacked against them, girls are up against multiple hurdles. It’s not surprising they frequently suffer from low morale.

At GlobalGirl Media UK we aim to give girls cameras, the confidence to use them and the power to level an unequal playing field.

Our Impact

75%

have reported using the skills they have gained at GGMUK training after their graduation.

63%

of our graduates have gone on to pursue opportunities after the training

44%

of our graduates have continued to film

4.5/5

On whether the GGMUK training has directly supported or influenced their current vocation, training or studies, the participants gave the GGM UK training a 4.5/5

The impact of GlobalGirl Media ripples out from the individual to her community and the wider media landscape

Girls gain relevant skills that produce ethical, impactful journalism

Girls write, develop and hone oral communication skills, critical thinking skills, become web literate, learn digital videography and produce content. Through watching films made through a female lens and through analysing content written by women and directed by women, GlobalGirls start to understand their rights and potential, learn to trust their voices and believe that they really matter. Girls create and maintain safe online presences, developing their literacy, creativity and individuality.

Girls build the self-esteem to drive their ability to thrive and become leaders in school, work and community.

Girls are exposed to role models such as community activists, leaders, politicians and media professionals: high-achieving women who look like them. By seeing such models, our GlobalGirls no longer have to imagine. They see for themselves what they can do. They learn public speaking, take risks, demonstrate appropriate workplace behaviour, work in a team, follow instructions, complete assignments fully and aspire to success.

Girls create digital content which is shared on multiple platforms, sparking discussion and leading to awareness about rights and driving social change.

As GlobalGirls create and share content on our website and Youtube channel they also see content made by others, from different backgrounds. By graduating from the GlobalGirl Media Academy, each GlobalGirl feels connected to a bigger movement, part of a network of peer-to-peer learning. She becomes more aware of common ground she shares with others elsewhere. A GlobalGirl learns how to identify problems and she feels empowered to solve them. She educates and inspires others and makes a difference in this world.

Why the media?

We live in a culturally diverse country that promotes gender equality, and yet females and their views are woefully under-represented – and often misrepresented – in the UK media. It’s creating problems for girls’ self-esteem and it threatens our democracy. Part of the problem is that the leadership of the media and cultural industry is still dominated by men.

Women still overwhelmingly appear in supportive, reactive or victim roles in the media, whereas men tend to appear in leadership roles where they are driving change. In print, women are far more likely than men to be referred to according to their looks, age or role in the family. And they appear less frequently in blockbuster movies than men (about a third as often).

Our Impact