Women journalists speak on gender inequality

By Bailey Cline

Photo by Bailey Cline

Reporters and photographers gathered for the Women in Photojournalism session Monday. Panelists recounted their experiences and struggles in the field, such as unequal pay and sexual harassment.

Elizabeth Conley, a Houston Chronicle photographer, said police officers sometimes treat her like she doesn’t belong. She recalled one story in which she got on her knees to take a photo and a police officer made a remark.

“He said, ‘oh, your dad taught you right to go on your knees in front of a male,” Conley said.

Nicole Fruge, director of photography at the San Francisco Chronicle, remembered when she applied for her first photo job, they told her she was too weak to carry the equipment.

“It took me almost two years to get hired at a staff job because of my size,” said Fruge.

Panelists agreed it is important to have women in different roles in the newsroom to help create gender representation. She added that hiring different people, of all races and genders, will add more diversity to newsrooms as well. 

Sam Owens, an Evansville Courier and Press photographer, said she’s appreciative of the women who have worked toward equality in the past. She’s found a lot of supportive people, in the workplace and around her, but she said there are still times when things aren’t equal.

“There’s some friction there of when to speak up and when to put your head down and keep working,” Owens said.

Panelists emphasized how, sometimes, other coworkers don’t realize the inequalities. Kathleen Flynn, a New Orleans freelance photographer, said it can be hard to stand up for equal pay rights or unjust actions for fear of sounding like a complainer.

Bailey Cline is a senior at Ball State University studying Journalism and Telecommunications. She graduates in 2020. You can reach her at bacline@bsu.edu or on Twitter @BaileyCline.