Fonds GB 106 5WMA - Women's Media Action Group

Identity area

Reference code

GB 106 5WMA

Title

Women's Media Action Group

Date(s)

  • 1977-1990 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

3 A boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Women's Media Action Group (WMAG) was a voluntarily run feminist collective which campaigned against sexism and stereotyping of women in the media. It grew out of a previous organisation, Alliance for Fair Images and Representation in the Media, (AFFIRM), which was established in 1977. WMAG dissolved itself in 1989 due to lack of support. The organisation felt that the reason for this was that they had a negative mission, i.e. they campaigned against an issue instead of promoting a positive viewpoint. Meetings were held fortnightly and a newsletter was produced six times a year.

Repository

Archival history

The archives of the Women in Media Group were held in the homes of various members of the organisation before being deposited with the Women's Library (formerly the Fawcett Library). The papers were deposited by a former member of the organisation in Nov 1997. Some personal papers of Margaret Deyes, founder of AFFIRM were already integrated.

GB 106 5WMA 1977-1990 fonds 3 A boxes Women's Media Action Group

Alliance for Fair Images and Representation in the Media

Women's Monitoring Network

The Women's Media Action Group (WMAG) was a voluntarily run feminist collective which campaigned against sexism and stereotyping of women in the media. It grew out of a previous organisation, Alliance for Fair Images and Representation in the Media, (AFFIRM), which was established in 1977. WMAG dissolved itself in 1989 due to lack of support. The organisation felt that the reason for this was that they had a negative mission, i.e. they campaigned against an issue instead of promoting a positive viewpoint. Meetings were held fortnightly and a newsletter was produced six times a year.

The archives of the Women in Media Group were held in the homes of various members of the organisation before being deposited with the Women's Library (formerly the Fawcett Library). The papers were deposited by a former member of the organisation in Nov 1997. Some personal papers of Margaret Deyes, founder of AFFIRM were already integrated.

The records were deposited with the Women's Library (formerly the Fawcett Library) in three accessions, firstly in May 1989 by the BBC, then in Jun 1996 by the group's archivist and then in 1999, also by the group's archivist.

The archive consists of Papers of Alliance for Fair Images and Representation in the Media (AFFIRM), Women's Media Action Group (WMAG) and the Women's Monitoring Network.

The collection includes policy documents including minutes, manifestos, programmes of action and press releases, correspondence of members with various individuals and groups including Lord Hill, the Home Office, etc on the images of women in the media, papers related to symposia organised by the group and the book 'Is This Your life?' administration papers and general correspondence.

Arranged into series representing AFFIRM, WMAG and the Women's Monitoring Network.

TThis collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit. Appointments may be required to access the audio-visual material in the collection.

English

Paper, VHS video and Betamax video, audio cassette tape.

The Women's Library Printed Collections holds the newsletter of the Women's Media Action Group.

This document was generated by Javascript from an HTML form which structured the input according to the elements of ISAD(G) Version 2. Collection description by Maxine Willett, Assistant Archivist, The Women's Library, Oct 2002. Edited for AIM25 by Sarah Drewery.

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Dec 2008 Discrimination Gender discrimination Organizations Associations Womens organizations Value systems Stereotypes Gender stereotypes Rights of special groups Womens rights Womens status Social problems Mass media Women Alliance for Fair Images and Representation in the Media Women's Media Action Group Women's Monitoring Network Sex Sex distribution

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The records were deposited with the Women's Library (formerly the Fawcett Library) in three accessions, firstly in May 1989 by the BBC, then in Jun 1996 by the group's archivist and then in 1999, also by the group's archivist.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The archive consists of Papers of Alliance for Fair Images and Representation in the Media (AFFIRM), Women's Media Action Group (WMAG) and the Women's Monitoring Network.

The collection includes policy documents including minutes, manifestos, programmes of action and press releases, correspondence of members with various individuals and groups including Lord Hill, the Home Office, etc on the images of women in the media, papers related to symposia organised by the group and the book 'Is This Your life?' administration papers and general correspondence.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Arranged into series representing AFFIRM, WMAG and the Women's Monitoring Network.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

TThis collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit. Appointments may be required to access the audio-visual material in the collection.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The Women's Library Printed Collections holds the newsletter of the Women's Media Action Group.

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Women's Library

Rules and/or conventions used

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area