More than half of the word population is only represented in one third of the United States media. Women. Women are still not equally accounted for. According to the most recent reports by the Women's Media Center, "Men receive 62% of byline and other credit in print, Internet TV and wire news." By all means, many women have indeed succeeded in the media: Arianna Huffington, Diane Sawyer, and Oprah Winfrey to name a few. However what's to come for the current generation? The difference between these major media moguls and the up and coming of today's media is---accessibility. The shift from old to new media has not only changed the way we, the viewers/readers get our news, but the way sources communicate with us.
Social Media connects society with journalists in a new interpersonal way. Each and every member of the media is guaranteed to hold and manage several social platforms (until they become famous enough to hire someone to do it for them). With social media comes trolls, backlash and criticism in a way that makes tabloids and gossip columns seem innocent. Behind the hate speech and death threats is a profile picture of the imbecile who chose to victimize you. Their weapon of choice, a QWERTY keyboard.
Without a doubt, women are very much underrepresented in today's media. Women voices are not heard nor accepted by misogynistic America.
Author and broadcaster, Alexandra Pascalidou shares some of the cyber hate she has recieved, "I've been called a dirty whore, a bloody Gypsy, Jewish, Muslim slut, a Greek parasite, a disgusting migrant, stupid psycho..."
Feminist author, Jessica Valenti also has been bombarded with threats and abuse.
This morning I woke up to a rape and death threat directed at my 5 year old daughter. That this is part of my work life is unacceptable.
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) July 27, 2016
Unfortunately, online abuse is a difficult to control. "Tech companies cannot simply delete misogyny from society," Nick Pickles states. According to an article published by The Guardian, law enforcement officials are not necessarily capable of handling these situations if there is no specific threat involved.
So if police can't help me, who can?
Zoe Quinn, a personal victim of online abuse, created a grassroots campaign in effort to eliminate online harassment. Crash Override, is a organization where people can seek advice and resources if they are subjected to online abuse.