Portrayal of Women in Media

A DISCUSSION AT KARACHI SCHOOL FOR BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP ON

 MARCH 11-2013

VIEWS AND OPINIONS OF MAJYD AZIZ

• ·         Media is TV. Radio, newspapers, movies, and advertisements.
• ·     Media is such an intrusive part of our lives that, we at times, do not comprehend on a conscious level how much influence it really has in our daily lives.
• ·      Only when we have more women making management decisions in media can we expect the media to be more reflective in its perspective.
• ·       In more ways than one, the male character in various plays and serials is primarily more dominant, depicting his “importance” in office or place of work, and seemingly very dictatorial.
• ·       IF WOMEN ARE DEMEANED THROUGH ANY CHARACTER IN MEDIA, THERE IS GENERALLY A MUTED RESPONSE FROM SOCIAL ACTIVISTS AS WELL AS FROM WOMEN-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
• ·     There are too many Cook Shows on electronic media. This has also affected the viewing patterns of the woman viewer since most of them are watching the various Cooking Shows during daytime as well consuming electricity.
• ·        Even male models and fashion designers act, behave, and talk in an effeminate manner.
• ·     The question one should deliberate on is how effective and motivating are female role  models?
• ·        Another question worth discussion is whether portrayal of women is realistic?
• ·        Third question is whether women are still being stereotyped in plays and serials?
• ·      The view is that most plays still show women as without a voice, still the housewife, and  still an object of sexual desire.
• ·        How many commercials show women selling cars, insurance, motorcycles etc except in a   supporting role in these commercials.
• ·        Even cell phones commercials depict women in a seductive mode.
• ·        Female Models are generally taller than average women.
• ·        How much coverage given to women sport events?
• ·    Recently one TV channel daily showing Annual Day programs of women colleges and schools.
• ·         Woman’s portrayal in media in Pakistan is a highly sensitized topic.
• ·    Why do women models and actors allow themselves to be “painted” in outrageously  exposing dresses and in disgraceful poses on billboards, especially advertisements of  movies?
• ·    Compare the differences in the talking, expressing, acting, and articulating of Indian  women actors and models and their Pakistani counterparts.
• ·     Recently a 2000-page verdict was given by Lord Justice Leveson in UK. The verdict  specifically referred to “Five things about women in media (press)”:

o   Sex objects

o   Wives and mothers

o   Passive roles

o   Relative instability

o   Too fat, thin, old, young