International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, honors the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide. This day also serves as a call to action for accelerating gender parity across various sectors. In this article, we delve into the roles and contributions of women in the radio broadcasting industry, the charitable sector, and hospital radio services. All areas that Torbay Hospital Radio is connected with.
Women in the Radio Broadcasting Industry
Despite progress in many fields, the radio broadcasting industry has historically exhibited significant gender imbalances. A 2013 study by Sound Women revealed that only 20% of solo radio broadcasters were women. The disparity was even more pronounced in shows with multiple presenters, where listeners were ten times more likely to hear male voices than female ones.
While more recent comprehensive data is limited, anecdotal evidence suggests that challenges persist. For instance, in Afghanistan, the resurgence of the Taliban has led to a systematic silencing of women’s voices in media, particularly radio. Female journalists have faced threats, dismissals, and the shutdown of women-centric radio stations, highlighting the ongoing struggle for representation and safety in certain regions.
Women in the Charitable Sector
Women play a pivotal role in the charitable sector, both as professionals and philanthropists. In the UK, women constitute 68% of the charity workforce, contributing approximately £19 billion to the economy in 2019. However, leadership positions do not reflect this majority; only about one-third of the largest UK charities have female CEOs, and men outnumber women on charity boards by a ratio of 2:1.
Philanthropic trends also indicate a growing influence of women. Baby boomer women are increasingly controlling significant wealth, leading to unique financial decisions, such as switching financial advisers, prioritizing long-term healthcare, and redirecting funds to charity. This shift has implications for family dynamics and wealth transfer, often leading to complex situations and financial reassessment following the death of a spouse.
Women in Hospital Radio
Hospital radio services provide entertainment and comfort to patients, often relying on volunteers to operate. While specific statistics on women’s involvement in hospital radio are scarce, the broader trends in volunteering suggest significant female participation. Given that women contribute an estimated 64% of the hours worked in civil society, it’s reasonable to infer that they play a substantial role in hospital radio services.
Summary and How Torbay Hospital Radio Can Support Gender Equality and Accelerate Action
International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of the strides made and the challenges that remain in achieving gender equality. Recognising and addressing the disparities in industries like radio broadcasting and the charitable sector are crucial steps toward a more equitable future.
Torbay Hospital Radio welcomes and encourages all genders to become volunteers and take up Trustee and other leadership positions. We currently have one female in a Trustee role (previously having two).
We do need to do more to encourage women to join our charity as there are only ten female volunteers out of roughly 32 volunteers. And to encourage more women to take Trustee roles when they next come to vote.
To do this, we will ask for ideas and support from the membership, make sure not to hold any gender bias when conducting votes, and invite more female guests to the shows, so more females are heard on the airwaves.
If you would like to join our charity, you can do so by filling out our application form.
References:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/jul/12/women-solo-radio-broadcasters-20-percent
https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/baby-boomer-wealth-transfer-women-5776d3a5