Recovering the history of women in mass media is not an anecdotal exercise or a mere act of visibility; it is a necessary step to repair the erasure and understand the true development of communication. For too long, their contributions have been minimized or excluded from official narratives, creating the false impression that they were mere spectators rather than active protagonists. However, from journalism to audiovisual production, advertising, radio and video game development, women have played a key role in the evolution of media. Rescuing their contributions not only does justice to their work but also expands our understanding of the past and enriches current debates on representation, power, and gender in communication. Ignoring their legacy perpetuates an incomplete history; recognizing it transforms the way we interpret media and its impact on society.
The goal of this Article Collection is to recover the work of women who have historically worked in mass media across the globe: in cinema, journalism, photography, radio, and video games. Across all continents, these women have been key agents in shaping and disseminating media, yet their contributions have often been made invisible. While they have always been present in the media landscape, history often remembers only the men, relegating women to the background. This collection aims to rescue those voices and highlight their contributions, showing that the history of mass media is incomplete without them. In doing so, it provides a more inclusive and fair view of the evolution of media and its impact on societies around the world.
This Article Collection explores the often-overlooked contributions of women in the development of global mass media, spanning cinema, journalism, photography, radio, and video games. Despite their significant impact, women’s roles have frequently been marginalized in mainstream media histories. The aim is to recover these lost stories and offer a more inclusive understanding of media history, beyond the Global North, highlighting the voices of women from Asia, Central and South America, Oceania, and Africa.
Subtopics:
- Women in Cinema – Examining the roles of women filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers across global film industries.
- Women in Journalism – Analyzing women’s contributions to journalism and their struggle for recognition in newsrooms.
- Women in Photography – Exploring women’s influence in visual storytelling and photojournalism.
- Women in Radio – Investigating the role of women in the development of radio and broadcasting.
- Women in Video games – Researching women’s contribution to the development of video games and its industry.
- Global Media and Gender – Addressing the intersectionality of gender, race, and class in shaping women’s media involvement worldwide, with a focus on breaking regional barriers.
This collection aims to highlight the essential role women have played in shaping media history globally, emphasizing underrepresented regions.
Keywords
- Women in Media History
- Invisible Contributions
- Global Media Representation
- Gender and Media
- Media Archives and Recovery
