Issue 1: Women journalists generally have more junior or genderrelated roles than men. While women may be well represented in the media, men dominate at more senior and decision-making levels.123 ARTICLE 19’s survey of 100 journalists in three of the largest private media companies, which included 25 women, found that those that do reach more senior levels work either on economics or in ‘soft subjects’ such as beauty, health, development, entertainment, or popular news (Tables 1, 3). There are very few women working on politics or current affairs at a senior level.124 Participants in our research did not fully agree on the reasons why women remain in more junior positions but a number of potential causes were raised: Women journalists have no gender-based employment protection. Some women journalists were concerned that men receive more remuneration in salaries or related benefits than women when in the same or similar positions. One participant said that this was particularly evident when freelance women are paid lower fees than freelance men. The participants were concerned that employers are aware of this bias and often regard it as acceptable.125 Women also have little employment protection when they become mothers. Participants stated that women journalists often receive less maternity leave than the law provides for. They added that women generally leave their jobs after childbirth as they do not have access to appropriate childcare, and when they do return to work they are generally expected to take on a junior level job. This was seen to be an important contributory factor to the lack of senior women journalists. Some women journalists get less training opportunities than men. A minority of participants believed that what little journalism training is available in Myanmar – and most journalists get little or none – is skewed towards men. One male journalist participant reported: “I was given an opportunity to do journalism training. I was prioritised for the training above women journalists of the same seniority and length of service [within my company]. They were not invited to do the training. The Chief Editor liked to favouritise and prioritise men in the media company at that time. I have worked in different media companies and most of them have adopted the same gender-biased system.”126 Women journalists seem to have fewer promotion opportunities than men. One participant, a senior employer within the media sector, explained that most employers prefer women because of A Myo Tha Mee Pin Ko Biza (women’s innate character), that is, the perception that women are more likely to stay in one job for longer. However, closer analysis suggests that this is a result of women getting fewer promotion opportunities and therefore staying in the same roles for longer. Participants also agreed that women journalists generally feel more vulnerable than men within society and are therefore more accommodating in order to retain economic and social stability for longer. Some women journalists working in traditionally male areas have been bullied. Some women journalists report problems with their peers, particularly younger male journalists, when reporting from the field in areas traditionally dominated by men journalists, such as politics, armed conflict and current affairs. Reported problems include being blocked from or delayed in collecting information or receiving disrespectful gender-based abuse from peers. One participant explained how women journalists are sometime physically prevented ARTICLE 19 - Censored gender: Women’s right to freedom of expression and information in Myanmar - Page 37