Portraying Traditional Roles

A report has shown that women participation in electronic media is not only scanty, but the roles given to women on the screen dominantly portrays their traditional role

By THAKUR AMGAI

The Nepalese media dominated by the males for most part of its more than half a century history has started to see a distinct growth in women participation and the issues of women in the last one decade. The growing participation of women in the media has also started a system of scrutinizing the media - both print and electronic - from gender perspective.

At a recent program organized to release an indicative study titled ‘Electronic media under gender lens’, women activists revealed that an extremely small number of women were involved in the overall process of the broadcasting. It also found that where represented, the women are projected as playing traditional roles only.

The report was prepared by woman activist and TV anchor Arati Chataut for Sancharika Samuha after the monitoring of three electronic media – Radio Nepal, Channel Nepal and Nepal Television for one month (from February 15 to March 15).

According to the report, while the ratio of male and female seen on the screen or heard was in general equal, the involvement of women behind the scene was almost nil.

“The involvement of women in reporting is about one per cent and that in technical works behind the scene is about two per cent,” states the report. Likewise the report states that the women issues covered less than five percent of the news materials.

“Although female faces dominate the screen footage on the television advertisements and tele-serials, only about five percent are portrayed to show the changing roles of women,” said Chataut. “The rest of them either show women as a show piece to attract the clients of certain products or women engaged in traditional activities only.”

“The media not only has a role of showing the reality, it also bears the responsibility to show way for an ideal society,” said Chataut urging the media people to be more sensitive on gender issues.

She also urged to end the use of gender biased words such as ‘manpower’, ‘chairman’ and ‘forefathers’ etc, while presenting programs.

While commending the endeavor undertaken by Sancharika Samuha and conceding the high level of disparity prevalent in the electronic media, participants accused the report of being prejudiced, biased and superficial.

“The issue of gender disparity is very grave and such issue should be dealt with seriously,” said Kishor Nepal , senior journalist and presenter of television program ‘Mat –Abhimat’. “This report is not only incomplete, but also biased.”

Similarly, Kedar Khadka president of pro-public and anchor of the television program ‘pakshya pratipakshya’ and a radio program ‘asal sasan’, expressed his skepticism about the efficacy of the report. “A superficial report like this, which fails to address the qualitative aspect of the women participation in media, is less likely to have any positive impact on a rural woman (who should have been the targets of women empowerment)”

Film Festival To Be Organized

At a time when the film industry is suffering the brunt of insurgency and economic slow down, officials at the Nepal Film Development Board are racing against time to prepare for the National Film Festival scheduled to be organized from July 11.

The festival is being organized for the first time in Nepal in the fifty year long history of Nepalese films.

 

The one week long festival packed with a number of contests and other programs is expected to provide some relief to the industry and encouragement to the film makers and others involved in the sector.

Altogether 45 Nepali films screened in the past two years (2060 and 2061 B.S.) will contest for 24 different titles, all the films made in the last four decades will contest for the critics award. 45 films have been selected for the titles such as best screen play, the best plot, the best dialogue, the best sound dubbing, best film editor, best lyricist, best music director, best male singer, best female singer, best dance director, best art director, best fight director, best child artist, best upcoming actor, best upcoming actress, best photographer, best co-actor, best co-actress, best comedy actor, best villain, best actor, best actress, best director and the best film artist.

Apart from the contesting films, outstanding contributors to the film industry will be honored during the festival.

In addition to the contests, the festival will also have other programs like workshops and seminars to discuss about the policies and programs to develop the film industry and suggest the government.

“The festival will help to upgrade the entire film industry,” said executive co-ordinator Bishnu Gopal Shrestha of the Festival Organizing Committee. “It helps to formulate the policies about movies, helps to create awareness and encourages the film makers and others.”