Gender bias in the O
Melody Rose, a professor at Portland State University, gave a fascinating talk last weekend at a training I attended. She is researching for a book on media coverage of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign for President. She said that while major newspapers refer to her as “Senator Clinton” the first time her name is mentioned in articles, per journalism protocol, thereafter she is very often referenced as “Mrs. Clinton”. Not even “Ms. Clinton”, let alone continuing to be “Senator Clinton” as often as other candidates are called “Senator Obama” or “Senator Edwards” throughout the articles. The subconscious message sent is “this woman is somebody’s wife” rather than “this person is an elected Senator”. Whoever you support for President, I hope you agree that is not fair.
The Oregonian takes diminishment of a female politician one step further, in the article printed today reviewing Multnomah County’s Audit of tax breaks given by the Portland Development Commission. I don’t want to distract attention from the meat of the audit – I suggest you read this article in today’s Tribune for some good information. But when you read this article in today’s Oregonian, I want you to notice something.
The name of the Multnomah County Auditor, whose office investigated and wrote the report, is not mentioned.
Anywhere in the article.
Two (male) County Commissioners are quoted. The article even ends with naming the (male) City Auditor, who didn’t write the report covered in the article, and attributes to him a quotation that might be taken as a put-down of the County Audit:
“The scrutiny on the programs will continue as City Auditor Gary Blackmer conducts a second audit. “We’re going a little more in depth,” Blackmer said.”.
OK, pop quiz: Who is the Multnomah County Auditor? And since she’s an elected official, don’t you think she deserves some name recognition for having completed this report?
It’s LaVonne Griffin-Valade, if you’re wondering. Thank you for a good analysis, Auditor Griffin-Valade.