The Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA), in partnership with the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) and the Union of the Methodist and Waldensian Churches (OPM), implemented the project “Promoting Responsible Coverage of Women and Girls in Digital News on Platform X in Uganda.”
As part of the project, UMWA conducted a Gender Media Monitoring Study to generate evidence on the representation of women and girls on Platform X and examine the prevalence and forms of misogyny directed towards women in public life.
The study sought to provide evidence that can inform efforts to promote more gender-sensitive and responsible digital journalism and social media engagement in Uganda.
About the Study
The study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches and covered a five-year period from June 2020 to June 2024. It focused on three categories of women who are particularly visible in public discourse and may be exposed to misogyny and other forms of gender-based violence online:
- Women politicians
- Women media professionals
- Women activists working with NGOs and civil society organisations
Twenty women were purposively selected from each category, giving a total of 60 women. The study also monitored content from seven media houses: Chimp Reports, Daily Monitor, Galaxy FM, NBS TV, New Vision, Nile Post and NTV.
A total of 1,640 tweets were analysed, including posts made by the selected women, posts about them, posts by the selected media houses and replies to posts made by the women.
Key Findings
The findings demonstrate that misogyny remains present on Platform X. Of the 1,640 tweets analysed, 89 (5%) were identified as misogynistic, while 1,551 (95%) were not.
Women media professionals accounted for the largest share of misogynistic tweets, followed by women activists working in civil society and NGOs, and women politicians.
The study also identified different forms of misogyny, including gender stereotyping, discrediting women, sexual harassment, threats of violence, dominance, derogatory language, body shaming, victim blaming and attempts to control women’s behaviour.
Gender stereotypes documented in the study included portrayals of women as emotional, weak, untrustworthy, unintelligent, dependent on men or primarily nurturing. Such narratives can undermine women’s professional standing and participation in public discourse.
The study further examined the gender of account holders posting misogynistic content. Among the tweets analysed for this comparison, misogynistic posts were proportionally more common among posts made by male account holders than female account holders.
The monitoring also examined content posted by the seven selected media houses and identified differences in the occurrence of misogynistic content across the monitored accounts.
Why the Study Matters
The findings highlight the importance of strengthening gender-responsive approaches to digital journalism and social media engagement. As social media increasingly influences public debate and the visibility of women in public life, the way women are represented online can affect how their voices, expertise and contributions are perceived.
The study provides evidence that can support journalists, editors, media managers, media regulators, civil society organisations, social media users and other stakeholders to recognise and address misogynistic and gender-insensitive content.
It also provides practical examples of the different forms misogyny can take online, creating an important resource for awareness-raising, media training, advocacy and future research.
The Way Forward
The study recommends greater commitment from all stakeholders to promote dignity, equality and protection for women and girls in digital spaces. This includes strengthening gender-sensitive journalism and editorial practices, promoting responsible social media engagement, increasing awareness of online gender-based violence, and encouraging media and digital platforms to uphold relevant professional, legal and human rights standards.
UMWA continues to advocate for a media environment in which women are fairly represented, accurately portrayed, heard and recognised as experts, leaders, sources and decision-makers.
About UMWA
Founded in 1983 by 48 female journalists, the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) was established in response to the limited recognition of women journalists within the media sector and the inadequate representation and portrayal of women in the media.
UMWA works to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment through information sharing, capacity strengthening, networking and advocacy. Its work contributes to a media environment where gender equality and women’s rights are recognised as essential to sustainable development.
