Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-m8qmq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T19:47:53.224Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Context and Media Frames: The Case of Liberia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 May 2016

Melinda Adams
Melinda Adams*
Affiliation:
James Madison University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

There is a growing body of work examining gender stereotypes in media representations of female candidates, but much of this literature is based on analysis of media sources in developed countries, including the United States (Braden 1996; Jalalzai 2006; Kahn 1994, 1996; Smith 1997), Australia (Kittilson and Fridkin 2008), Canada (Kittilson and Fridkin 2008), France (Murray 2010b), and Germany (Wiliarty 2010). The increase in female presidential candidates and presidents in Latin America has encouraged research on media portrayals of women in Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela (Franceschet and Thomas 2010; Hinojosa 2010; Piscopo 2010; Thomas and Adams 2010). To date, however, there has been little research exploring media representations of female politicians in Africa. (Exceptions include Adams 2010; Anderson, Diabah, and hMensah 2011). A question that emerges is whether the gender stereotypes common in coverage in the United States, Europe, and Latin America are also prevalent in Africa.

Type
Thematic Issue: Women, Media, and Politics in a Comparative Perspective
Information
Politics & Gender , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , June 2016 , pp. 275 - 295
Copyright
Copyright © The Women and Politics Research Section of the American Political Science Association 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adams, Melinda. 2008. “Liberia's Election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Women's Executive Leadership in Africa.” Politics and Gender 4 (3): 475–84.Google Scholar
Adams, Melinda. 2010. “Ma Ellen: Liberia's Iron Lady?” In Cracking the Highest Glass Ceiling: A Global Comparison of Women's Campaigns for Executive Office, ed. Murray, Rainbow. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, 159–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alexander, Deborah, and Anderson, Kristi. 2003. “Gender as a Factor in the Attribution of Leadership Traits.” Political Research Quarterly 46 (3): 527–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, Jemima Asabea, Diabah, Grace, and hMensa, Patience Afrakoma. 2011. “Powerful Women in Powerless Language: Media Misrepresentations of African Women in Politics (the Case of Liberia).” Journal of Pragmatics 43 (10): 2509–18.Google Scholar
Atkeson, Lonna Rae, and Krebs, Timothy B.. 2008. “Press Coverage of Mayoral Candidates: The Role of Gender in News Reporting and Campaign Speech.” Political Research Quarterly 61 (2): 239–52.Google Scholar
Barnes, Tiffany D., and Beaulieu, Emily. 2014. “Gender Stereotypes and Corruption: How Candidates Affect Perceptions of Election Fraud.” Politics & Gender 10 (3): 365–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bauer, Jacqui. 2009. “Women and the 2005 Election in Liberia.” Journal of Modern African Studies 47 (2): 193–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bøås, Morten, and Utas, Mats. 2014. “The Political Landscape of Postwar Liberia: Reflections on National Reconciliation and Elections.” Africa Today 60 (4): 47–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Braden, Maria. 1996. Women Politicians and the Media. Lexington: University of Kentucky Press.Google Scholar
Bystrom, Dianne G., Banwart, Mary Christine, Kaid, Lynda Lee, and Robertson, Terry A.. 2004. Gender and Candidate Communication: VideoStyle, WebStyle, NewsStyle. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
CIA. 2015. “Liberia.” The World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/li.html (accessed February 23, 2016).Google Scholar
Darcy, Robert, and Choike, James R.. 1986. “A Formal Analysis of Legislative Turnover: Women Candidates and Legislative Representation.” American Journal of Political Science 30 (1): 237–55.Google Scholar
Franceschet, Susan, and Thomas, Gwynn. 2010. “Renegotiating Political Leadership: Michelle Bachelet's Rise to the Chilean Presidency.” In Cracking the Highest Glass Ceiling: A Global Comparison of Women's Campaigns for Executive Office, ed. Murray, Rainbow. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, 177–95.Google Scholar
Freedom House. 2012. “Freedom of the Press 2012: Liberia.” https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2012/liberia (accessed February 24, 2016).Google Scholar
Harris, David. 2006. “Liberia 2005: An Unusual African Post-Conflict Election.” The Journal of Modern African Studies 44 (3): 375–95.Google Scholar
Heith, Diane J. 2003. “The Lipstick Watch: Media Coverage, Gender and Presidential Campaigns.” In Anticipating Madam President, ed. Watson, Robert P. and Gordon, Ann. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 123–30.Google Scholar
Hinojosa, Magda. 2010. “‘She's Not My Type of Blonde’: Media Coverage of Irene Saez's Presidential Bid.” In Cracking the Highest Glass Ceiling: A Global Comparison of Women's Campaigns for Executive Office, ed. Murray, Rainbow. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, 31–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huddy, Leonie, and Terkildsen, Nayda. 1993. “The Consequences of Gender Stereotypes for Women Candidates at Different Levels and Types of Office.” Political Research Quarterly 46 (3): 503–25.Google Scholar
International Media Support (IMS). 2007. “Strengthening Liberia's Media: A Review of Media Support in the Post-Conflict Transitional Period and Recommendations for Future Actions.” http://www.mediasupport.org/publication/strengthening-liberias-media/ (accessed February 24, 2016).Google Scholar
International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX). 2012. “Media Sustainability Index 2012: Development of Sustainable Independent Media in Africa.” https://www.irex.org/projects/media-sustainability-index-msi-africa (accessed February 24, 2016).Google Scholar
IREX and the Liberian Media Center (LMC). 2012. “Liberia Media Sustainability Index.” https://www.irex.org/sites/default/files/u115/Liberia%202012%20MSI%20Proof.pdf (accessed February 24, 2016).Google Scholar
Jalalzai, Farida. 2006. “Women Candidates and the Media: 1992–2000 Elections.” Politics and Policy 34 (3): 606–33.Google Scholar
Kahn, Kim Fridkin. 1994. “The Distorted Mirror: Press Coverage of Women Candidates for Statewide Office.” Journal of Politics 56 (1): 154–73.Google Scholar
Kahn, Kim Fridkin. 1996. The Political Consequences of Being a Woman: How Stereotypes Influence the Conduct and Consequences of Political Campaigns. New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar
Kittilson, Miki Caul, and Fridkin, Kim. 2008. “Gender, Candidate Portrayals, and Election Campaigns: A Comparative Perspective.” Politics & Gender 4 (3): 371–92.Google Scholar
Moran, Mary. 2012. “Our Mothers Have Spoken: Synthesizing Old and New Forms of Women's Political Authority in Liberia.” Journal of International Women's Studies 13 (4): 51–66.Google Scholar
Murray, Rainbow, ed. 2010a. Cracking the Highest Glass Ceiling: A Global Comparison of Women's Campaigns for Executive Office. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murray, Rainbow. 2010b. “Madonna and Four Children: Segolene Royal.” In Cracking the Highest Glass Ceiling: A Global Comparison of Women's Campaigns for Executive Office, ed. Murray, Rainbow. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, 49–68.Google Scholar
National Elections Commission (NEC). 2011. “Liberia: 2011 Presidential and Legislative Elections.” http://www.necliberia.org/results2011/ (accessed February 25, 2016).Google Scholar
Piscopo, Jennifer M. 2010. “Primera Dama, Prima Donna? Media Constructions of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in Argentina.” In Cracking the Highest Glass Ceiling: A Global Comparison of Women's Campaigns for Executive Office, ed. Murray, Rainbow. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, 197–219.Google Scholar
Randall, Lawrence, Kpargoi, Lamii, and Pulano, Cosme. 2008. “Summary Report: Media Reach and Penetration Study.” Liberia Media Center. http://lmc.0fees.net/PDF/Media-Reach-Penetration-Study-LMC-Zeon.pdf (accessed Feburary 25, 2016).Google Scholar
Schwindt-Bayer, Leslie. 2005. “The Incumbency Disadvantage and Women's Election to Legislative Office.” Electoral Studies 24 (2): 227–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shair-Rosenfield, Sarah, and Hinojosa, Magda. 2014. “Does Female Incumbency Reduce Gender Bias in Elections? Evidence from Chile.” Political Research Quarterly 67 (4): 837–50.Google Scholar
Smith, Kevin B. 1997. “When All's Fair: Signs of Parity in Media Coverage of Female Candidates.” Political Communication 14 (1): 71–82.Google Scholar
Thomas, Gwynn, and Adams, Melinda. 2010. “Breaking the Final Glass Ceiling: The Influence of Gender in the Elections of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Michelle Bachelet.” Journal of Women, Politics, and Policy. 31 (2): 105–31.Google Scholar
Transparency International (TI). 2013. “Corruption Perception Index.” https://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/ (accessed February 24, 2016).Google Scholar
Uscinski, Joseph E., and Goren, Lilly J.. 2011. “What's in a Name? Coverage of Senator Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic Primary.” Political Research Quarterly 64 (4): 884–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Allen, Judith. 2009. “Radical Citizenship: Powerful Mothers and Equal Rights.” In Power, Gender and Social Change in Africa, ed. Ndulo, Muna and Grieco, Margaret. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 60–76.Google Scholar
Watson, David, and Moreland, Amy. 2014. “Perceptions of Corruption and the Dynamics of Women's Representation.” Politics & Gender 10 (3): 392–412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wiliarty, Sarah Elise. 2010. “How the Iron Curtain Helped Break through the Glass Ceiling: Angela Merkel's Campaigns in 2005 and 2009.” In Cracking the Highest Glass Ceiling: A Global Comparison of Women's Campaigns for Executive Office, ed. Murray, Rainbow. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, 137–57.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Adams supplementary material

Appendix

Download Adams supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 21.9 KB