(In)Equality, Expertise and the Covid Crisis: An Intersectional Analysis
(In)Equality, Expertise and the Covid Crisis: An Intersectional Analysis
Inequality for women and BAME voices in the public arena is sadly old news and is well documented in scholarly work. It should not come as a surprise then that, during the coronavirus pandemic, such inequality was not only reinforced but it also became the norm. This chapter is concerned with the presence (or lack thereof) of (BAME) women expert (from health officials to politicians) during the national lockdown periods (23 March – 10 May 2020). It focuses on the daily Government Press Briefings, and their national press coverage, in order to establish the extent to which (BAME) women were allowed to speak as experts during the pandemic. Adopting an intersectional approach, this chapter argues that the lack of diversity in official Government communication during the crisis, is not only indicative of the way experts are treated in contemporary British society. It may also discourage (BAME) women in presenting themselves as experts and having a voice in matters of the State. Ultimately, this chapter argues that the mis- and underrepresentation of diverse voices in public discourse is detrimental to an equal society and has wider democratic consequences.
Intersectionality, politics, expertise, Leadership, leadership and identity, News
Cardo, Valentina
87fafbf1-f6c0-4454-a39a-9173d7bd7f5e
Cardo, Valentina
87fafbf1-f6c0-4454-a39a-9173d7bd7f5e
Cardo, Valentina
(2023)
(In)Equality, Expertise and the Covid Crisis: An Intersectional Analysis.
In,
Beyond the Virus: Multidisciplinary and International Perspectives on Inequalities raised by COVID-19.
(In Press)
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Book Section
Abstract
Inequality for women and BAME voices in the public arena is sadly old news and is well documented in scholarly work. It should not come as a surprise then that, during the coronavirus pandemic, such inequality was not only reinforced but it also became the norm. This chapter is concerned with the presence (or lack thereof) of (BAME) women expert (from health officials to politicians) during the national lockdown periods (23 March – 10 May 2020). It focuses on the daily Government Press Briefings, and their national press coverage, in order to establish the extent to which (BAME) women were allowed to speak as experts during the pandemic. Adopting an intersectional approach, this chapter argues that the lack of diversity in official Government communication during the crisis, is not only indicative of the way experts are treated in contemporary British society. It may also discourage (BAME) women in presenting themselves as experts and having a voice in matters of the State. Ultimately, this chapter argues that the mis- and underrepresentation of diverse voices in public discourse is detrimental to an equal society and has wider democratic consequences.
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Accepted/In Press date: 2023
Keywords:
Intersectionality, politics, expertise, Leadership, leadership and identity, News
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Local EPrints ID: 456960
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/456960
PURE UUID: 13776885-ab60-4b2b-87ca-3ac62705ebc1
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Date deposited: 18 May 2022 16:50
Last modified: 19 Dec 2023 02:53
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