Hegemonia masculina, miopia de género e “tetos de vidro”: Perceptions from centennial newspapers professionals on the regional press feminization process

Abstract

In this study, we explore the feminization of newsrooms in Portuguese regional press, investigating the dominant socio-professional profiles and the distribution of management and leadership positions between men and women. Based on a sample of five newspapers, representative of a universe of 40 centenary regional titles in Portugal, 20 interviews were conducted with professionals from these newsrooms to identify potential gender inequalities. Using thematic critical analysis, we highlight how their narratives reveal obstacles and barriers that limit women's access to leadership roles within the journalistic hierarchy. By confirming the presence of the phenomenon known as "glass ceilings" in regional press newsrooms, this study contributes not only to understanding the role of gender in journalistic work practices but also to a deeper understanding of the composition of regional newsrooms, a sector that remains peripheral in research agendas.