Despite the majority of media students being female, they are underrepresented in employment and managerial positions in media houses.

Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Child Welfare Deputy Minister Bernadette Jagger revealed the statistics and called for more efforts.

The deputy minister made the remarks at the International Women's Day commemoration in Swakopmund.

She says the Second National Gender Policy is aimed at promoting women's access to information and communication technology and eliminating the negative portrayal of women and girls in the media.

Jagger cited several strategies that were therefore adopted, including making all forms of ICT accessible to women.

"And also to promote women's representation in decision-making positions within the media industry, including on media boards, training of journalists in gender-sensitive reporting, and encouraging media houses to adopt gender equality policies and measures."

The minister, however, is disappointed that gender gaps still exist in the sector.

She says that despite female media students making up 64% of the number of media students in the country, women constitute 40% of all media practitioners and 34% of media house managers.

"This implies that although women constitute the majority of media students, they are underrepresented in employment and managerial positions, and this is an indication of the entry barriers that women face in the media profession. Gender stereotypes, discrimination, and sexual abuse are some of the barriers that female media practitioners still face in the information and communication technology industry.

She further expressed concern and stated that rural women have limited access to media and ICT products.

Jagger has called on stakeholders to put in place measures aimed at improving women's, girls, and people with disabilities' access to media and ICT products, as well as female representation in media leadership positions.