Perceptions of Female Healthcare Professionals and Press Readers of the Media Representation of the Collective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22235/d.v40.5092Keywords:
healthcare personnel, press, public opinion, Spain, ChinaAbstract
This study examines how female healthcare professionals and press readers in Spain and China perceive the media representation of this group. A qualitative design based on in-depth interviews with healthcare professionals and newspaper readers in China and Spain (n = 48) was employed. The findings indicate that media coverage of female healthcare professionals is perceived as combining recognition of their work with criticism of structural problems in the healthcare system. Moreover, such coverage is considered insufficient in terms of depth and continuity and is seen as shaped by political and economic interests. Finally, stereotypes linked to physical and emotional attributes were identified, alongside a relative lack of attention to the professional competencies of female healthcare workers across both media contexts analyzed. Overall, increased media visibility of female healthcare professionals does not necessarily translate into more equitable representation.
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