On Wednesday 13 March morning, the Aula Marconi of the National Research Council (CNR) in Rome hosted the presentation of the initial data of the “No Women No Panel – Senza donne non se ne parla” campaign. This event was promoted in Italy by RAI, based on the campaign launched in 2018 by the European Commission for the monitoring and evaluation of the impact of a balanced and plural participation of women and men in public communication events in order to improve gender equality.
A few years after the signature of the “No Women No Panel” Memorandum of Understanding signed by RAI with Public Administrations, Universities, Academies and Research Bodies, including CNR, data were presented about the monitoring activities carried out by the signatory institutions on public communication events (conferences, seminars, meeting and presentations) held in 2023. The final goal is to encourage a cultural change that allows to overcome gender stereotypes, eliminate prejudices and affirm women’s freedom from all forms of violence.
Data show that there is a balanced participation of men and women in events focused on the Environment (39.3%), Society/Latest news (34%) and Science (30.5%). While Economics and Politics are still topics mainly covered by men (manel) in almost 60% of cases, the prevalence of women in Cultural/Educational events is as high as 30% approximately. In 2022-2023, there was an increase in the participation of women who carried out communication and dissemination activities at events, and this trend was also observed by CNR. Since 2022, CNR also set up an internal team to scientifically support the monitoring and analysis of data collected from all the institutions who signed the project.
The meeting was attended by Maria Chiara Carrozza, CNR President, Marinella Soldi, RAI President, Marcella Panucci, Head of Cabinet of the MUR, Eugenia Roccella, Minister for the Family, the Birth Rate and Equal Opportunities, and Giovanna Iannantuoni, President of the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI) who focused on the fact that gender gap and inequality can only be overcome through widespread awareness of the problem. Women, in fact, graduate earlier and with higher grades than men but they earn around 20-25% less, depending on the roles. Furthermore, one in two women does not work because they cannot find an opportunity to emerge in society. This is mainly due to the fact that women often struggle to combine their career with their role as mothers, also due to welfare policies that do not focus on work-life balance.Therefore, it is necessary that universities,media and the research world become catalysts for positive cultural changes. “The media have a great responsibility: because they are among the main inspirers of role models, for all generations. The messages that are given – or not given – are amplified in society and for this reason the public service has a leading role in this battle of civilization against gender stereotypes,” concluded RAI President.
