Professionalism does not equal flirtation in journalism
- La Voz Latina
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
By: Alexa Figueroa
First dates might feel like an interrogation session when you're trying to say just enough to impress the other person. Journalism might feel similar; when cultivating sources, you are adapting your personality to gain someone's trust.
The difficulty arises when your interviewees mistake your professionalism for flirtation. All of a sudden, you don't care about the interview questions you meticulously prepared. Rather, you are attempting to deflect attention from the situation and convince someone that this was just a business transaction.
Women in journalism are often misconstrued as flirting and are taken less seriously than their male counterparts. Additionally, female journalists are more likely to be the target of sexual harassment, including gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, and sexual coercion.
Many of these challenges have been a part of my experience as a student journalist. I've landed a lot of interviews that have ended up becoming conditional. After the interview, the source requests I go on a date with them if I wish to use any of their quotes on the record. I have lost connections with sources because our relationship never became romantic. I have been mistaken for a sex worker while on assignment when clearly identifying myself as a student journalist.
And the list goes on and on.
Sexual harassment in the journalism industry has now become the norm
Sexual harassment is one of the main reasons why many women set boundaries, refrain from interviewing men, turn to drinking as a coping mechanism, and leave the industry.
According to the International Women’s Media Foundation, researchers found that almost three-quarters of the top management jobs are occupied by men compared to slightly more than a quarter occupied by women. Among the ranks of reporters, men hold nearly two-thirds of the jobs, compared to just over a third held by women.
Female journalists are held to a higher standard than men. Even if you are qualified, you will have to put in five times as much effort to be considered worthy of being a journalist.
There is an extreme pressure to always appear "presentable," especially if you work as an anchor or reporter on-air. You need to get your hair, nails, and makeup done, dress professionally, and look good enough to be on TV without wearing anything too tight or revealing. There’s no middle ground because even if you follow these standards, men will argue that their unwanted remarks are due to the effort you put into your appearance.
"If you’re too nice, you are asking for trouble. If you aren’t nice enough, you’re a bitch. The line is invisible and exhausting, and I keep thinking about what one front office member told me my first year. “You want to be hot enough so guys want to talk to you, but not so hot that people think you are f—ing them." - Brittany Ghiroli
In more recent years, Reddit threads have become a platform in which women detail their experiences of unwanted flirtation while on the job.
Female bylines may stand out more among male-sounding names, drawing scrutiny and targeted harassment in the sports industry
Female sports reporters often face sexual harassment. The Committee to Protect Journalists spoke to a variety of journalists that cover men's college or professional sports and found that all of the women said they received online harassment in response to their reporting. In many of these instances, they found that the harassment was more intense for journalists whose coverage included reporting on sexual abuse and domestic violence.
Ines Sainz was whistled at and catcalled in the New York Jets football players' locker room. Jessica Kleinschmidt was sent “inappropriate” photos by a baseball minor league team’s communications manager. These are only a few examples of countless harassment stories that exist within the world of sports journalism.
Journalists of color are more likely to be harassed compared to white journalists, statistics show
It’s especially daunting to be a journalist of color. Women of color were 34% more likely to be mentioned in abusive tweets than white women.
A 2022 Pew Research Center study finds that 27% of Black journalists, 20% of Hispanic journalists, and 27% of Asian journalists experienced online abuse based on their race or ethnicity, compared to 5% of white journalists.
There are already stereotypes about Latina, Black, Middle Eastern, and Indigenous women. When you’re a journalist, you’re put on a public platform in which your every move is judged. Men already have a preconceived notion about women, and their true thoughts come out with rejection.
Journalism is a wonderful career that allows you to give a voice to the voiceless. But oftentimes, journalists are the ones who have to fight to be heard.
Comments