Feb. 27th Feminisation of PR

"Women will ALWAYS work in Public Relations, but they will NEVER run it"

In class we were assigned debate teams which argued the topic above. My group presented for the motion. These are a few points we debated.

1. Women do not get equal play in decision-making roles which is a key attribute of higher ranking Public Relations Practitioners. Thus proving that it is less likely for women to run the PR field.

~ According to Larissa Grunig, author and Professor at the University of Maryland, women are highly skilled. However, they are hired for work in PR for such roles as writing, media relations, and special events. These are the technical roles. Women are over-represented in technicians' ranks and under-represented in management. 1

2. There are a lack of role-models in which younger female PR professionals can seek advice.

~According to the Journal of Business Communications, a primary issue in the lack of female advancement in PR is the need for female role models and mentors, networking, and educational issues in PR.2 If they are no women willing to help the future generation of female practitioners, the cycle will continue and women will NEVER run PR.

3. The Business Journal of Communication: 2/3rds of women surveyed said that stereotypes and preconceptions of women's roles and abilities were the leading barrier to advancement.

~ Although women have advanced, the progression has been slow and the glass ceiling still exists. Stereotypes of women contribute to discrimination from companies. According to a study from the Business Journal of Communications, the salary gap between genders prevent women from truly being considered equal. Also, according to Grunig, "Companies consider PR as marginal to organization function, not central like finance or marketing. They're not afraid to give women a shot at PR because the risk factor is low," says Grunig. "3 Many of these companies also have not proven that they trust women to be as effective in management. You can have a good job title such as director or manager, but the trust level is low and tasks are not as rigorous a a man's.

Sources:

1. Salon 21st: The culture of technology/The technology of culture. Article: Spin Sisters. Web Address: http://archive.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/12/cov_03feature2.html. Date Visited: 27/02/08.

2. (The Business Journal of Communications. By Peter G. Ross. The experiences of women in a public relations firm: a phenomenological explication. Web Address: www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/public -relations/644398-1.html Date Visited: 27/02/08)

3. Salon 21st: The culture of technology/The technology of culture. Article: Spin Sisters. Web Address: http://archive.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/12/cov_03feature2.html Date Visited: 27/02/08.