LGBTI and Indigenous Groups in Ecuadoran Media
LGBTI and Indigenous Groups in Ecuadoran Media
- Palmira Chavero RamírezPalmira Chavero RamírezFLACSO Ecuador
- , and Martín Oller AlonsoMartín Oller AlonsoUniversity of Milan
Summary
Public opinion is strongly influenced by the images that media present of the outside world and the frames of the main issues. In the case of Ecuador, this media content has been characterized by a strong presence of discriminatory and biased content. This kind of content contributes to the exclusion of some citizens, especially social minorities such as LGBTI; indigenous; and other identities people. As a consequence, the role of the state is more important to generate public policies in order to protect the minorities and to recognize others kinds of media.
In the last three decades, some of these groups have taken an important role in the social and political sphere, in addition to the academic one. The LGBTI collective has seen some of the historically denied rights recognized (such as equal marriage, approved in 2019), and progress has been made in the public debate on some women’s rights. For their part, indigenous people have taken a leading role in political action and have managed, at least for a time, to stop regressive public policies of rights, thereby becoming one of the main political actors today. The role played by the media in making these actors and their actions visible has also taken center stage.
The situation of these groups is currently in a drastic process of change, although they still feel discriminated against and judged by society and by current legislation. This situation is aggravated due to the image that the media show of them, based on stereotypes and the lack of knowledge of their diversity identity.
The main challenge continues to be for the mainstream media to move away from their economic and political nature to approach an inclusive communication, with a rights-based approach that recognizes and allows the development of equality in all citizens.
Subjects
- Gender (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies)
- Race, Ethnicity, and Communication