Media\'s Perspective on Women Empowerment
MEDIA\'S PERSPECTIVE ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
- Bijan Ghosh
The media is instrumental in defining what we thinking, how we looking and our social place and issues in the society. The term media is defined as a means of communication which operates on a bigger scale, involving and reaching virtually everyone in the society to a greater or lesser level. Media has been influencing the social, economic, cultural, political,spiritual and religious aspects of society as well as personal level feeling, thinking and acting. Media provide the latest information and create the need of the people for change in contemporary society. Media have both positive and negative contribution in the society. Media is all contradictory; its functioning is very subtle.[1] Media plays a essential role in circulation of information. It is called the fourth pillar of democratic policy. Radio,films, televisionand the printed word reach all of us in this age of information. Each of them try to perfect its modes of communications to become more effective as a medium. By moderately shaping public opinion on personal beliefs, and even people’s self-perceptions, media shapes ideology and thinking and influences the process of socialization.
Communication is very important for success of a woman and media play a significant role to achieve the same. It is to be distinguished that growth of education of women and their entry into the media through employment has put up the growth of media. If Media can be a powerful medium of change, it can be an equally significant medium of oppression. It is without a doubt a ruling agent for advocacy of gender equality and the position of women. Even the media can also uphold stereotyped images of women and their roles in society.Contribution of the women to the society have always been veiled by the news of their hardships and atrocities inflicted upon them. It is essential that the electronic and print media present a balanced picture of women’s contributions to society in a changing world. As media has great impact on people, it should act with extra responsibility before publishing and reporting any news. Representation of women by media, which is uncomplimentary to their image, is an evidence of lack of gender sensitivity and has called for making them responsible for such portrayal of women. This kind of examples had led the National Commission for Women to recommend amendment in the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition Act) 1986.[2]
Knowledge of women about mass media, their control over and access to the different kinds of ordinary and contemporary media is still restricted in most societies. The extend in the involvement and access of women to decision-making and self-expression through the media and new technologies of communication is in a way of women empowerment. The strong and optimistic role that the media can play in the empowerment of women and gender equality should be supported.
Media have a great capability for the women empowerment, even so the general utilize of this media by women is very low. Media has played a significant part in women empowerment, media also has played its role in portraying about the injustice faced by the women and empowering the women. Media should generate consciousness about risks prevailing in work places, at home, staying outside home and while travelling. Economic self-sufficiency is necessary, though it is not a enough for women empowerment. Public policies are very much significant to build up the legal institutions that assure the equal rights and opportunities to women. The Media should came up with legal, economical, political and health awareness. They should give knowledge about groups and associations. Mass Media should have the useful viewpoint towards life. Under any unfavorable situation they should not loose confidence and courage and try not to end their life. They should have a powerful determination to succeed in life. In simple words, the self assurance of women has to be built by success stories of other women.[3]
In the modern era, the era of globalization and with revolution in means of communication and information technology, the role of media has become very important for the empowerment of women in India. The Indian media now days must focus on issues regarding women in a conclusive way as their role is detrimental for the women empowerment in India. It is important that media should allocate a good percentage of their programmes to spread awareness among women and the society at large, and also give information about the rights of the women and machineries to approach for their overall growth. Media should set goals for future of the women and try to achieve them with conviction and courage.[4] Much developmental news should be aired through radio and television. The urban lower middle class women need information mainly on the following subject matters:
• Work opportunities and employment in India and self-locality;
• Information about NGO’s;
• Healthcare and affordable childcare;
• Dowry system, other legal rights like self-help, violence etc;
• Educational facilities at their locality;
• Legal provisions against Sexual harassment, Domestic Violence and Social injustice.
The role of Media is very significant to increase Women empowerment which will conduct to social and economic empowerment of women. The Mass Media,like all social media, are good and practical means to increase, through the circulation of healthy idea of being woman, of what is the role of women in modern society, of good examples that women give us every day, of the results they have achieved and continue to reach out to women in many fields of economics and beyond, the social consideration of women, giving to young women good ideas and examples for their economic empowerment. Women, in Indian society, are traditionally expected to confine themselves to domestic environment. Woman’s perceived interests linked to domesticity may adversely affect her empowerment outcomes. It was found from the women empowerment survey that the women in India are empowered but still their interest towards domesticity affects their empowerment otherwise they would have been more empowered. In fact social power plays an significant role in generating or sustaining inequalities between men and women, which plays an important part in generating and sustaining gender inequalities. In India, only the less percentage of social empowerment and the knowledge of their rights show that the women are still not feel secure outside the house. The freedom of press in India is a blessing for the citizens. The government and non-governmental organization can work on towards enhancing the women’s traits and capabilities.[5]
The media professionals and reporters need to be sensitized on gender issues and problems and a system of rewards may be developed for those who are able to present women in positive way. Likewise, stringent disciplinary action should be taken against those who disobey the rule. New innovative decent presentation of women, based on Indian culture and society through media must be introduced. A strong legislative effort coupled with a wide spread social awareness with morality and ethics is needed to fight this menace so that women are not perceived as a commodity but as individual with right and dignity.
REFERENCES :
[1] Women for sustainable cities <http://womenforsustainablecities.org> accessed 2 April 2020
[2] Women Empowerment in India<www.womenempowermentindia.com>accessed 7 April2020
[3] E. A. Khan andMoin, A. Khan,‘Women Empowerment: Role of New Media. Retrieved\' (2013)<http://www.ocwjournalonline.com/Adminpanel/product_images/7f2535d7e476506d7e2a368e4bdb220c.p df>accessed 5 April 2020
[4] Premlata and TanujaJakuriya\'Role of Media in Empowering Women\' (2018) < http://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.704.182> accessed 4 April 2020
[5] Ending Violence against women < http://www.swayam.info > accessed 2 April 2020
