Improving media literacy among female students

Context

Freedom of opinion, access to information and gender equality are basic prerequisites for resilient, inclusive and democratic societies. However, digital surveillance, censorship, disinformation and hate speech on the internet are rapidly increasing worldwide. This threatens the rights to freedom of expression, privacy and access to information.

Girls and women need equal access to the digital world in order to obtain information, educate themselves and actively participate in society and the labour market. However, the internet is still used by around 250 million fewer women than men worldwide. In addition, girls and women more frequently fall victim to cyber bullying and other forms of digital violence.

Objective

Media literacy has improved among female students at German schools abroad and other partner schools abroad.

Approach

To promote girls’ and women’s participation in digitalisation and society, the project supports multi-day academies that improve female students’ media literacy. The media academies take place at German schools abroad and other partner schools of the PASCH initiative.

The interactive academies teach female students how to consciously deal with information as well as gender-based online violence. There is a strong focus on the personality development and self-realisation of the girls and young women. The participants are also better able to recognise disinformation afterwards. The Sport for Development approach is used to impart skills in an interactive manner. The female students disseminate their new knowledge in their families, at school and with their friends.

The insights from the media academies are then drawn up and shared with relevant national and international organisations.

Last update: July 2023