Gov't social media posts reflect gender stereotypes

By Kim Bo-eun

Government institutions’ posts on social media contain underlying gender stereotypes, according to a recent study.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family conducted an examination on 1,261 videos and images posted on the Facebook pages of 20 government institutions earlier this year.

It identified problems in 17 posts of 12 institutions. The ministry did not disclose the names of the institutions.

The examination is part of a comprehensive study of laws, policies and projects of the central and regional governments and governmental institutions concerning gender issues. It was the government’s first look into social media content.

A large number of posts propagated gender stereotypes.

In a picture on preventing industrial accidents, a male figure represents the construction and manufacturing industries and a female one the service industry.

In a video from the same institution on occupational safety, the CEO is portrayed as a man, and a woman as being in charge of kitchen affairs.

“These posts can make people develop the prejudice that jobs are gender-determined,” the ministry said.

In a recruitment post for scholarhip students for aspiring basketball players and swimmers, the athletes are depicted only as males.

In a pictureon measures to tackle the water shortage problem, a woman is depicted as a passive figure not knowing what to do while a man is sitting in front of a computer finding a solution.

“This can reinforce the prejudice that women are dependent on men,” the ministry said.

Meanwhile, a post on dieting shows a large woman working out while crying, and a thin woman looking content, which the ministry warned could promote lookism.

The ministry has advised the institutions to make improvements on gender sensitivity.

On the other hand, the ministry also identified posts promoting gender equality.

In the Korea Environment Corporation’s poster on spring cleaning, the entire family is shown taking part in the cleaning, implying that domestic chores are not only the duty of women.

In a post of the Korea Rural Community Corporation on making kimchi, both a man and woman are featured.

A Korea Expressway Corporation, meanwhile, shows a woman working in car maintenance.