Women’s Ministry Introduces a Non-Sexist, Non-Discriminatory Communication Guide

The Women’s Ministry introduced a Guide for the Analysis and Reflection of Non-Sexist, Non-Discriminatory Communication Code in the hope that the media and advertising industry will contribute to the socialization of an inclusive culture based on fairness, gender equality and respect for diversity.

Alejandrina Germán, Minister of Women, said the participation of the media and advertising industry to achieve this goal of gender equality in the Dominican Republic is of vital importance…

Alejandrina Germán, Minister of Women, said the participation of the media and advertising industry to achieve this goal of gender equality in the Dominican Republic is of vital importance in view of their influence on society and their ability to generate changes.

Ms. Germán said that inequality between men and women reflect the fundamental social, economic, political and cultural differences in society among males and females and that in order to effect changes in these areas it is necessary to take permanent action that will impact all structures in Dominican society, including the value system. She added that the media and advertising industry therefore have an important role to play in this task.

Alejandrina Germán said that in recent years Dominican women have achieved many advances in terms of the definition of public policies and social gains. Important examples of these gains are found in the new Constitution of the Dominican Republic , proclaimed on January 26, 2010.

“Now our challenge is to win over and sensitize public opinion, communicators and the media about the causes and effects of gender inequality in society so they can contribute to change through the dissemination of images of women as valuable and productive members of society based on equanimity and gender equality,” said Ms. Germán.

The “Guide for the Analysis and Reflection of Non-Sexist, Non-Discriminatory Communication Code” contains simple, useful examples of observing and working with the reality of men and women and how to adequately deal with these realities among those in Dominican society who are concerned with this issue. The guide contains a series of suggestions, ideas, recommendations, analytical results of exercises and research as well as theoretical structures that serve as social and advertising strategies that can be promoted as perspectives to be followed in order to change stereotypes and facilitate the use of gender-sensitive language in communication.