Pen is Mightier Than The Sword
Rekha Aggrawal
“
T
here is no chance of the welfare of the world
unless the condition of women is improved. It
is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing.” –
Swami Vivekanand.
women are unimportant
or invisible. It is a sad
commentary on the subordinate role that women
are often subjected to not
only
in
India
but
throughout the world. In
India a women is ideally
viewed as Shakti (power)
but in reality projected as
a helpless women without
Rekha Aggrawal
any identity except that of
a wife or mother who has very little voice in decision
making and has no right to exercise her choice.
The media, both electronic and print, is a very
powerful means of communicating and reaching out
to the masses. It is an important tool which if properly
utilized can be instrumental in helping the cause of
women, highlighting their problems and also
suggesting a viable solution. To some extent the
media has helped in supporting the cause of women’s
emancipation by focusing their problems, particularly
the neglect and marginalization that they face in
society. The media is a pervasive and profoundly
influential socializing force.
In this scenario the media can play a very important
role in influencing how we view women, as it is the
most pervasive and one of the most powerful
influences on the thought process of the human mind.
Therefore, it is important that the media should
exercise caution and play a proactive role in the
process of empowerment of women.
The image and representation of women and girls in
the media is a subject of great concern. The media
often portrays women in very stereotypical ways.
While men and boys are associated with masculinity,
machismo, independence, competition, aggression
and violence, women and girls are shown as being
feminine and endlessly pre-occupied by there
appearance and fascinated by “girly” things such as
dolls, jewellery, make up and clothes, cooking only.
At the same time women are being shown as being
thin and having diminutive waist lines. Such
projection of men and women in stereotypical ways
reflect and sustain socially endorsed views of gender.
They emphasize traditional roles and normalized
violence against women and also shape the notions
that little girls and boys have about who they should
be and what they can achieve. At the same time
women depicted as intelligent are often portrayed as
unattractive as well. Such constant re-enforcement of
polarized gender messages have fundamentally antisocial effects.
The media should take up the cause of gender
inequality that is prevalent in society everywhere,
whether it is home or office. Women are grossly
underpaid and their work is not officially recognized.
Surveys show that there is discrimination not in
salary but also in promotion, work distribution and
working hours. Women generally earn a far lower
wage than men. The media can play a crucial role in
bringing this bias to the knowledge of people. It must
not be forgotten that the Constitution of India makes
it mandatory to give equal rights to all citizens,
whether men or women. For this the media has to be
serious, sincere and sympathetic in its approach
towards women’s problems.
The media should be partic V