Radio stations have multiple benefits to the communities they serve. Beyond providing entertainment, radio is able to create and recreate the social landscape of the community. As a public space, the radio offers an alternative to physical space, for the empowerment of communities and community building.
The Women’s Talk Radio in Guatemala about violence against women aims to teach and create a different consciousness about what it means to be a woman in Guatemala. In a country where women are often afraid to walk down city streets alone, the radio gives an alternative yet highly public space in which they can express themselves and describe their struggles as Guatemalan women. The radio’s audience is for the most part, a community of women listening to the radio as a form of entertainment as they do housework and chores. Many of the station’s listeners are women whom perhaps are not politically engaged in their current communities and who do not necessarily know their rights as a woman in Guatemala. As a result, many of these women chose to get involved in one of the many events advertised on the station. In this, the radio station encourages women to learn one’s rights as a woman and become politically aware and engaged. For example, in class we were told the story of a woman whose son was physically abusing his wife. Absolutely terrified, the woman approached some police officers on the street to ask for help. When the officers attempted to ignore her plea for help, she was able reify her rights as a woman and demand their attention and help in the situation. By helping her daughter-in-law, this woman became part of an empowered community. As an active member in the Guatemalan women’s community, they both are able to teach and continue to create a different women’s consciousness. Through this, there is a cyclical reconstitution of the women’s community.
CBQM is a citizen-run radio station in the Teetl’it Gwich’in community of the Northwest Territories. While the purpose of this radio station differs drastically from the Women’s Talk Radio in Guatemala, it also functions for empowerment and community empowerment and building. CBQM describes itself as an expression of aboriginal pride. The radio station is used to advertise events for aboriginal peoples such as the annual Elder Dinner and events for aboriginal youth. It also features live aboriginal musicians. While the majority of people on CBQM are aboriginal, white individuals are also involved; including the local minister and police officer. The police officer uses his time to address public issues such as the egging of houses. The minister used her time to share recipes and deliver messages and announcements. CBQM has a wide variety of topics on the radio station involved in maintaining the intimacy of the community. The nature of CBQM as a citizen-run radio station is unique in the way it reflects and serves its community. All community members have access to the radio station as explained by Fred, a citizen radio operator. He said on air, “if you wanna get on CBQM just call in and they’ll give ya the keys and teach ya the controls.” In this, the community is reflected quite clearly in that they are also the radio station operators. The radio station operators are able to bring forth a wide spectrum of topics that pertain directly to the larger community. While the radio station operators are involved in the community in a number of different capacities, they are able to discuss the topics that are relevant to their involvement.
The Women’s Talk Radio about violence against women and CBQM both create and recreate the communities they serve. Both stations are involved in empowerment whether as an expression of aboriginal pride or education surrounding women’s rights. The radio stations also function to build community through a variety of different events in which listeners can attend, enjoy and become engaged community members.
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