Ethiopian Media continues to be a "mountain" for women journalists

Her name is Meaza Hadara. She joined the Ethiopian media seven years ago. Her separation from her four-year-old television station illustrates the challenge for women in Ethiopian journalism.

She recalls that months before she resigned, she was barred from reporting on women's issues.

"Once my name is sent, I will be replaced by other male reporters," she said.

For this reason, Meaza said to her boss, "Why can't you be a feminist and a journalist?" She realizes that she is not comfortable with her new boss, as she sees things from a gender perspective and does not always hesitate to ask.

Meaza, who says this is not a coincidence, was also a mother of nine months. While in hospital to vaccinate her daughter, she told her boss that she would vaccinate her daughter and return to work.

"You can't miss it," she said.

"I did not take a three-year permit. In addition, a house permit can be applied for under the law," Meaza explained.

The last reason she quit her job was because her son was sick, asked for a two-day leave, and received a much lower salary than her older partner. This annoyed her that it was not related to competence.

 

"My boyfriends have three children and they still work," she said, explaining the gender differences. She was frustrated by the fact that the female journalists approaching the screen were not focused on their content but on their age and physical condition.

"A woman journalist does not correct the news she writes, but a man who spends hours on her makeup and clothes. When we gather for the editorial in the morning, we focus on the woman's dress and presentation, not the man's wool," she said.

Meaza adds that she does not want to be seen on TV by a makeup artist, citing herself as an example. Despite her experience, she did not want to go ahead with her makeup and dress.

"Most of the female presenters are in a hurry until she finishes filming Human Hair and the makeup is released. The men arrive 10 minutes before the recording.

"When my salary was increased, my four-year-old daughter's salary was more than five thousand birr," she said.

"When I asked why, she was given a reason to say, 'We don't want her to be in the wrong place on TV and to be seen in the wrong clothes.'