Women make the following tweets public every week: Twitter accounts (@ikusgaia) “Today there are no women in @Boulevardeitb conversations.” Continuing with the work of #Onsonlesdones in Catalonia, this group of teachers and researchers from the Audiovisual and Advertising Department of the UPV/EHU uses social networks to denounce the low participation of women in the Basque media.

According to the study Global Media Analysis, only 9% of the people who appear as media experts in Spain are women. This information has remained stable in the last two reports: 2010 and 2015. It therefore appears to be a general trend.

When I've talked to journalists about this percentage, they've all admitted that it's hard for them to find a woman ready for an interview or collaboration. Many have told me with an excuse tone: “Well, I can’t do anything if women don’t cheer.”

The lack of empowerment is undoubtedly an important component of this low presence. In the article Girls in the front row published by Silvia Nanclares eldiario.es there is talk of scam syndrome. When we participate in the public sphere, we feel that women do not deserve many times. The reason? Because in patriarchy authority is related to masculinity.

Many women have acknowledged me this insecurity (“I don’t think my opinion is interesting”, “I don’t feel prepared”...), but many others have told me that the media are foreign and violent spaces. I, a journalist, agree.

I summarize three invitations I have received in recent years:
1. ETB morning Magakin, to discuss abortion with a bishop. If I didn't encourage myself, I was asked to recommend another feminist. I said no, and I didn't find any volunteers.
2nd The news reports of La Sexta, because a city council reported a bad communication about a machista murder in search of my reaction. They would come within an hour, to give you a one-minute statement. I found it unwise to judge the conduct of an institution that I did not know in the vote and in two words.
3. I was called a television host La Nut to speak on a show about Fidel Castro's death. Without knowing me, he said: “Beitu, dear, I have not found any women who want to participate in the table and I would like you at least to come by phone.” I said yes, but I felt very small.

If we really want to promote the participation of women, we have to question the patriarchal dynamics of the media. Is the tertulia format appropriate that requires categorical opinions on any subject (TTIP, Syrian War, Homeopathy)? Who do we attribute expert status to? What can journalists do to make the interviewee or Tertulian feel comfortable? What do we do when a woman undergoes sexist comments or aggressions because they appear in our environment?

Are men willing to leave their place? Those who regularly participate in the media, have you ever given up an invitation and have you recommended a colleague? The Classical and Modern Cultural Association has asked men to refrain from participating in initiatives that reject women.

Imagine if the Tertullians of El Boulevard were going down that road. Do I ask you too much?