During 2017 BeFem initiated the Bureau for Equality (Biro Jednakost in Serbian) because we were tired of listening to excuses such as “we couldn’t find any women experts to talk on this theme”. Within this initiative we have, in cooperation with our followers from social media and by recommendation from women experts as well, collected the names of women experts in different areas – areas where men dominate in the media coverage.
In this way we wanted to contribute to a change of the misrepresentation in the media.
The Bureau for Equality is inspired by the Swedish initiative Equalisters (Rättviseförmedlingen in Swedish), a social media network of more than 90 000 people who contribute to better representation of those categories that are less present today – in media, panel discussions, at music festivals and so on.
Since those who can be heard and seen in the media are almost always men – no matter the topic – we want to offer a concrete tool for a more diverse reporting, where different voices can be heard.
To date, we have made 18 lists including 385 women from various fields. We made the lists of brilliant interlocutors and experts in different spheres who integrated gender perspectives in the fields of education, security, sports, and culture. You will get the lists, as well as a brief Guide to Better Media Representation of Women.
The Bureau for Equality shows that women exist, think and create knowledge in different important fields, even though they do not reach media spaces. Hence, this model provides a practical tool for the media themselves, and all those willing to advocate for gender equality by enabling women voices to be heard.
