A methodological proposal for the analysis of the political economy of communication from an intersectional feminist perspective

From a feminist perspective, the political economy of communication (PEC) is a very interesting approach to look at women’s relationship with the cultural industries in terms of access and participation, and to determine its possible link with the way in which they are represented. While there are important studies that demonstrate gender bias in the media, few have considered patterns of media ownership as an element of power reproduction, and fewer have intersected gender inequality with other forms of discrimination. Based on this, a methodological proposal that incorporates the analysis of intersectional feminism into the field of the PEC becomes relevant to broaden the understanding of power relations within the framework of the cultural industries and their connection with capitalism, patriarchy, and racism as systems of domination. This chapter first presents an approach to the forms of representation from an intersectional perspective that legitimize the international and sexual division of labor. Subsequently, a methodological proposal is presented for a comprehensive analysis of media ecosystems in which variables, dimensions, and indicators related to women’s access to and participation in the media and the way in which they are represented are presented.