SECTOR 2 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.1 (2007=n/a; 2009=1.5; 2011=2.1) 2.7 All media fairly represent the voices of both women and men. Women are not given an equal voice with men in the media. Women remain in the minority even in the advertising pages. One of the explanations put forward by the panel is women’s reticence to express themselves when they have the opportunity. Some of them refuse because they have no self-confidence. It must be added that sociological pressures have been responsible for higher illiteracy among women. All these factors convergent in the media’s preference for what one panellist called “les hommes en vue” (high-profile men). However it is clear that no woman has been prevented from access to the media simply because she is a woman. A newspaper like La Nation has a column in which women are invited to express themselves, “given the floor” as it were; unfortunately they have not been very forthcoming. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.8 (2007=n/a; 2009=3.0; 2011=3.7) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2014 83