Gender equality through music

The promotion of equality will be taking on a new form as local singers become ambassadors to drive the message home.

The aim is to leave sexist stereotypes behind and ingrain positive messages in people's minds Sina Bugeja, executive director of the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality, said.

"We want to put these positive messages on people's lips."

Radio stations will be recruited to belt out tunes encouraging equal opportunities, while the singers themselves will deliver the messages during summer activities.

The concept of using music to convey messages is no novelty and Ms Bugeja pointed out that folk singing has long been used to pass on messages from one generation to the next.

"People find it difficult to accept certain things; to understand that abilities do not depend on gender," she said during a press conference.

The 12 songs chosen are part of a €400,000 project partly funded by the EU which the commission is leading together with organisations from Italy, Portugal, Greece and Croatia. It will also include a research study to seek good practices for the promotion of gender equality.

Past research had shown that gender stereotypes were not related to class or education background. Positive change was already taking place in Malta, she said.