VIDA, a relatively new association for women in literary arts, recently published a somewhat shocking report showing a significant gender gap on the bylines in major magazines and publications in 2010.
Steve Thorngate, assistant editor of The Christian Century, summarized those findings thusly:
At the Atlantic, men outnumbered women by a three-to-one ratio. The New Yorker was only slightly better, and Harper’s and the New Republic were worse. Worst of all? The New York Review of Books, which favored men by a factor of six.
Reading about the gender gap prompted Thorngate to consider if the magazine he works for had a similar disparity. His audit of the 2010 print edition of the magazine found men outnumbered women by about two to one.
So What?
Gender equality matters to people of faith.
- Are you surprised to find this significant a gap for articles written in 2010? Why or why not?
- If your congregation publishes a newsletter containing articles (not just ads for events/activities) consider auditing the 2010 article bylines. Share your results with those responsible for the overall communication strategy of the parish.
- Within the context of your faith community, how do you ensure historically underrepresented groups are a significant part of all conversations?