BOOM December 2015 | Page 8

ARTICLE the other hand, tend to be ordinary residents, homemakers, students, villagers, or survivors of domestic violence. Such stereotypical representation barely reflects the reality of the scope of women’s contribution towards society. While women comprise approximately 40pc of the employment in the formal labour force, their economic contribution is reflected in only 20pc of news reports. Media sexism has “endured across decades and geographical boundaries, adapting to emerging media forms and thriving in all spaces in which news content is produced and shared”, according to Dr Sarah Macharia, GMMP global coordinator. In the context of Pakistan, the data reveals severe gender disparity. Only 16pc of print/broadcast reporters are women, and th