How the Tanzanian Press Portrayed the Country's First Female President Samia Suluhu Hassan in a Non-stereotypical Manner
Abstract Despite increased visibility, women politicians continue to confront gender stereotypes perpetuated by biases in media coverage and systemic barriers. This study investigates the gender representation of Tanzania’s first female president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, in local newspaper coverage. The study asks two primary research questions: how prominent were the news articles about President Hassan and how was she portrayed in those articles? The quantitative content analysis of 414 news articles that appeared in the state-owned HabariLeo daily newspaper and the privately owned Mwananchi daily newspaper from March 2021 to March 2022 revealed slightly different approaches to President Hassan’s visibility and portrayal. Whereas HabariLeo prioritised the president’s visibility with front-page placement, Mwananchi offered more in-depth, below-the-fold analysis. The study establishes that ownership, editorial policy, and sociocultural constructs influence the newspapers’ coverage. The study unveils not only positive gender representations of the president emphasising her authority and competence but also minor stereotypical representations in the coverage consistent with how President Hassan presented herself to the public using traditional gender roles. Overall, the study unearths favourable journalistic practices within the Tanzanian media landscape and a gender-sensitive portrayal of the country’s first female president that challenges not only entrenched traditional socionorms but also previous research.
Publisert i 2025
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