The two-day workshop on ?media and democracy in an age of transition? was one of the rare occasions the press has had to reflect on its own role. We are the first to criticise but we are not always ready to listen to and accept criticism. This was an opportunity therefore to question ourselves and, above all, acknowledge our responsibility in making Mauritius a more democratic island.

Many issues were brought up but the participants may feel unsatisfied with one particular matter: the gender issue. Yet, this should be one of the main preoccupations in our modern world where men and women are supposed to be on an equal footing. ?Gender equality seems to be a very fashionable phrase in Mauritius. Our politicians and stakeholders are champions when it comes to the rhetoric on gender equality,? writes Loga Virahsawmy in ?Finding a voice? following a study by Media Watch Organisation, the Mauritian branch of Southern Africa Gender & Media (GEM) Network. This clearly implies that not much is being done in reality to change mentalities.

The media could really do something to help promote gender equality in Mauritius. But this is far from being the case according to the GEM study. The fact that women?s views and voices are grossly underrepresented in Mauritian newspapers was highlighted: women constitute only 17% of the news sources and men?s voices dominate in all the hard news categories.

But we should first think upon the reasons that could explain this ?male domination.? Actually, the fact that women are not as reported as men in the press may result from a ?social phenomenon?. Considering the fact that Mauritius is one the countries where women are the least represented in politics, it is not really surprising that they do not play a leading role in other sectors. In business circles, it is exactly the same: men predominate, and particularly at high levels of the hierarchy. So, the real problem comes from society as a whole, which may not make enough room for women, who are too often confined to a traditional role.

Of course, the media ?have the potential of becoming a positive force for change.? And this is precisely what is being done in some newspapers, which are becoming more and more conscious of the problem. We can now see a clear will and a concrete editorial policy aimed at changing this traditional and passive role usually attributed to women.

The policy of l?express could in no way be qualified as sexist. Women constitute a large part of our editing personal and we try to bring our contribution to gender equality. For instance women who have experienced great success are portrayed at least once a week by l?express to show that women really have their role to play in our society. Contrarily to what has been done for a long time, we now put the professional qualities of women forward instead of their physical appearances. Women are no longer considered as commodities, objects or victims.

This positive attitude of the media reveals that the press is more and more conscious of the problem and is committed to bringing more equality and democracy to our society. However, more strategies could be found for the media to really participate in making Mauritius become more gender- democratic. First, gender equality should be treated in such a way that readers feel more involved and sensitive to this matter; in other words, it could well help change perceptions and perspectives. This may also be achieved by simply changing the way of reporting news so as to put women forward.

Actually, it is both the journalists? and the readers? mentality which will have to change. Indeed, it is not because women do not always have a high position in the hierarchy that they are of no interest? In fact we should give the chance to people who do not often voice out their opinions the opportunity to do precisely that.