Gender disparities in the media coverage of local electoral campaigns in Mexico

Abstract

A full exercise of the right of women to participate in politics also implies fair and non-discriminatory news coverage of electoral campaigns. In order to determine if there were gender differences in the volume of coverage of the first campaigns in which the principle of gender parity was applied in Mexico, we analyzed data from the local campaigns of Jalisco. We found that men candidates obtained significantly higher percentages of stories and minutes than their females counterparts. The volume of coverage devoted to male candidates was higher especially when comparing candidates representing incumbent parties and candidates representing large parties.