(UK/News Corp) Leveson inquiry should address media sexism, women's groups demand

Lord Justice Leveson should widen his investigation into the practices and ethics of the British press, and tackle the sexual objectification and damaging representation of women in the media, says a coalition of women's groups.

The Leveson inquiry will "not be doing its job properly" if it does not examine the portrayal of women in the media, according to End Violence Against Women (EVAW), Equality Now, Object, and the rape charity Eaves. They argue in detailed submissions to the judge that reporting in tabloid and in some cases broadsheet newspapers perpetuates violence and even prevents some women reporting rape to the police.

"Leveson is not just charged with looking at phone hacking but for the entire relationship between the press and the public," said Jacqui Hunt, director of Equality Now.

"Women make up 50% of that public but too often in the tabloid press are portrayed as sexualised objects or victims who are somehow to blame for the violence committed against them. When older women are pushed out of the media, when they are not used as expert commentators, when women are not seen as equal partners – this has a negative effect all the way through society."

full: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/dec/29/leveson-inquiry-should-address-media-sexism