The portrayal of women in the media as housewife and sex-objects stifles the aspiration of a woman

-Ms. Bharati Silwal Giri

Constitutionally and legally women are not prohibited to participate in politics. Yet very few women take part in politics and this is a good example of arbitrary cultural exclusion. Although the Constitution of Nepal 2047 B.S. makes it mandatory for political parties contesting the general elections to field five percent women candidates the same number do not get elected. Traditionally politics is viewed as being the domain of man. Therefore priority is not given to women candidates. Very often as we have seen the party fields women candidates where the party has no stake or will use her to garner sympathy votes. Therefore the 5 percent has become a mere ritual and does not in the real sense produce a large number of women leaders who can influence gender-perspectives in the legislature. Women were completely ignored in the local elections, as there were no mandatory statutes for them. The recent Decentralization Report recommends that 20 percent women candidates should be fielded in the local elections. There is no guarantee that 20 percent women candidates will be successful in winning the elections and a repeat of parliamentary elections will ensue. Therefore to make omen visible politically 30 percent women constituency on a rotation basis both at the Parliamentary level and local level needs to be created. This will create a large number of women leaders from the ggrass-roots level who shall collectively transform current political trends of violence, deception and corruption. Women's political leadership should not be put to doubt as the expeditious manner in which she manages to resources related to household consumption, health and care of all family members qualifies her in becoming a good and capavble leader of the State. Local bodies need to be strengthened through the devolution of power by enforcing decentralization so that people's participation at the grass-roots level in relation to resource allocation and control will lay the foundation for good governance. This will ensure transparency and accountability by policy-makers and those invested with the authority to implement decisions for the welfare of the people. This will accelerate the pace of development and allow democratic space for different interest groups to participate in decision-making.

Education:

The traditional perspective as dictated by patriarchy that it is not worth investing in a girls education is one of the main causes of backwardness of the women in the society. As girls will be future wives and mothers, it is considered more appropriate for her to graduate in house-hold chores and home-making rather than enroll her into a school which shall give her the requisite knowledge, skill and confidence to stand on her own feet. Therefore the girls bear the brunt of such a perspective and are deprived of their right to education. Education empowers women and also enhances their status in the family and society. An educated wife is respected by the husband also. An educated mother can raise a healthier family and encourage her children to become educated. The proverb, "If you educate a man, he educates himself only, but if you educate a woman, you educate the whole nation", has proved to be true in today's context. But education costs money and the poor struggling with their own subsistence can ill-afford to send their daughters to the school and the excuse that they are 'somebody else's property"'', so why educate them finds a logical conclusion.

Against this background it becomes imperative on the part of the government to give priority to girls education, as they will prove to be a valuable asset to the nation. Therefore the State should provide free and compulsory education for girls. Although the government is said to be providing free education it is not free in the real sense of the term. Schools charge for miscellaneous activities and in addition school uniform and transport also involve expenses. Besides, as most of the schools are not within accessible vicinity parents are unwilling to send their daughters if they have to walk long distances for fear of their safety.

The labor demands of girls at home of poor families is the cause of high drop-out rates in primary schools. In order to regress this trend the government should introduce flexible school schedules so that girls can attend classes and complete their formal education.

The gender biases and prejudices inculcated in the home gets embedded in the school. Research has proved that even female teachers pay more attention to boy students than girl students which psychologically inhibits girl students in outshining their male peers. Besides text books also embody these biases. Gender-sensitization training for teachers need to be organized and text-books and other instructional materials need to be revised to remove gender-stereo-typing.

Media:

Media is a powerful medium of change. The central role of the media in the People's Movement 1990 can't be denied. Notwithstanding the fact that democracy has been reestablished in Nepal, one has to still question where do the women figure if at all?/ Where are the women in the context of new awareness of gender?/ If today knowledge and information no longer the prerogatives of the rulers only then who stands to benefit from the media?/ This in itself generates a host of questions. Media for whom?// What messages will be conveyed?/ What impact will media have for the development?/ How this will affect women in particular? Who controls the media? Obviously the answer to this is "men"'!

A research carried out by CWD on "Media in Nepal"' conforms that, "Women are merely recipients of information or knowledge and have unquestionably accepted men's biases."

As in all other sectors of journalism is also seen as a man's preserve. As marriage is the primary goal of women even for the very talented woman, it is no surprise why very few women take to journalism. When financial realities make it necessary for women to opt for a job very often she will go for one that will not be too demanding on her time at the cost of house-work. And for a woman who has barely managed to pass S.L.C making a living out of journalism is out of the question.

The portrayal of women in the media as housewife and sex-objects also stifles the aspiration of a woman taking up journalism as a profession. Such messages day in day out confirm pre-conceived notions of gender. Even if women join media institutions again horizontal segregation is at play. To date no woman has headed government run media and the idea that a woman should be given the opportunity to do so does not cross even the minds of those who govern because they are all males. A review of program news and ad. Contents will reveal that they are all male-oriented. A glaring example is the AIDA ad aired by the state media NTV that promotes promiscuity in men. Another example that harps on women staying beautiful, as if that is their sole purpose in life, is the one in which a popular actress is strongly advocating breast-feeding.

Portrayals of women in their traditional mould and gender stereotyping in the media must make way for message and programs that will act as a model for women to participate in the democratization process. Media advocacy groups that will closely monitor and evaluate messages regarding gender can also play a subtle role in transforming the society.

Text courtesy: "The role of civil society and democratisation", a NEFAS publication-Chief editor.

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