IHLAS HAMRUNI

 Tunisia- Difficult living conditions and the patriarchal mindset that affects society prevent women from telling their problems and seek solutions through the media. Due to this situation, journalists face difficulties in reporting women’s issues.

 Women living in rural areas of Tunisia suffer from both difficult living conditions due to male dominated social structure, restricting women’s freedom and leading to the increase in violence against women. This situation also prevents women journalists from addressing women’s issues. Women journalists in Tunisia think that women's issues should be brought to the agenda of the country and that women should be encouraged to tell their stories.

‘Women cannot openly talk about their problems’

Manal Baltayeh, a journalist based in Tunisia’s Kasserine Governorate, told us that she faced many problems whenever she tried to shed light on women’s issues, especially gender-based violence. “We face difficulties in accessing accurate information. We cannot find sufficient data on certain issues or cases related to gender-based violence.”

Indicating that many women do not want to speak to them, Manal Baltayeh said, “Whenever we want to report on women’s issues such as gender-based violence, women’s participation in the labor force or politics or women’s rights, women refrain from expressing their opinions, thoughts, or making their voice heard and defending their rights even though they are sometimes aware of the importance of the media in raising their voices.”

‘They are afraid of being subjected to violence again’

Speaking about the reason for women’s refusal to express their thoughts, Manal Baltayeh said, “Women in southern or central Tunisia live in a patriarchal society that does not allow them to appear in the media. Therefore, women cannot openly talk about the problems faced by them. They are afraid of being subjected to violence again if they talk about their problems. They keep silent because they are afraid of their husbands, fathers or brothers.”

Hanaa Karous, a reporter of the Radio Mosaique in southern Tunisia, also faces problems whenever she wants to focus on women’s issues. “As journalists, we face difficulties in obtaining data. Some women victims of violence tell me their stories but they refuse to be photographed or their voices to be recorded. They often ask me not to write their names. Fear of stigma keeps them from telling their stories.”

‘Women have difficulties in telling their stories to journalists’

Alfa Khaskhousi, a journalist based on Tunisia’s Sidi Bouzid Governorate, mostly reports on women’s issues. Like Manal Baltayeh and Hanaa Karous, she also thinks that women refuse to appear in media interviews. “They do not want to talk about their problems because they are afraid of their husbands, fathers and brothers.”

Women journalists in Tunisia think that women need to be encouraged to tell their stories and education to get rid of the patriarchal mindset.