CONTENTS

Editorial• Message from the Director i• Message from the Guest Editor iiPerspectives1 Gender and Media Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities – A Report 12. Quote - Unquote : A Media Mirror 33. Walk the Talk : An Excerpt 4Contributions1. Get an Education, Grab that Technology… Help Yourself 72. Promoting Gender Mainstreaming in Media Education and Research 103. Women in Media in the age of Globalization 124. Hindi Soap Operas: A Boon or Bane? 135. Mobile phones and Gender: A Technological Bridge 156. Understanding Gender and Media: A Novice Perspective 167. One Step Forward and Two Steps Back 188. Women as an Object: By Will or Forced? 199. Violence against Women and the Role of Media 2110. Gender Disguise in the Indian Entertainment Industry: Cross Dressing 2311. Moving Towards new AGENDA for GENDER : Spaces for Discourse 25Book Review• Media, Gender and Popular Culture in India: Tracking Change and Continuity 27Current Statistics• Representation of Women in News Media: A Survey by Media Studies Group 29Insight• AMbpfp¡dp„ drlgpAp¡“¡ gNsp kdpQpfp¡ ‘f A¡L$ “S>f 32Bibliography·• Archives : Gender and Media 33• Relevant Readings: Gender and Media 35WSRC News• Activity Report 37• Documentation Center 39

Guest Editor Nidhi Shendurnikar Tere

Senior Research Fellow (UGC-SRF)Department of Political Science

Faculty of ArtsThe Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Editorial AssistantNalanda Tambe

Senior Master StudentFaculty of Journalism and Communication

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Hon. DirectorProf. Shagufa Kapadia

ProfessorDepartment of Human Development and Family Studies

Faculty of Family and Community SciencesThe Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Publication coordination -Geetha SrinivasanLibrary Assistant

Women’s Studies Research CenterThe Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Khushbu SutharProgram Officer

Women’s Studies Research CenterThe Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Message from the Director

Greetings from the Women’s Studies Research Center!

Gender and Media – the two concepts are inherent to us and to our everyday lives. Gender defines ouridentity to a large extent and media defines our world or, at least our perception of much of the world. Theintersection between the two is thus inevitable. In this age of technology media engulfs us 24/7, literally. Beingperpetually swamped with messages, the media has a powerful influence on our thoughts as individuals and asa society. A “catch-22” kind of question that often arises in discussions related to media and gender is asfollows: Do the media create, or maintain, or reflect the gender-based roles that saturate our environment?I believe that media has immense potential to mobilize change (we have seen concrete examples of this in therecent past) and bring in transformation to create a society that is gender sensitive and gender just.

This issue of the WSRC Communiqué offers a diverse collection of articles that discuss a range of perspectiveson gender and media from academicians and practicing media professionals, thereby presenting aninterdisciplinary outlook on the theme. Together the articles highlight the opportunities that the gender-mediaintersection offers and the challenges that need to be met, yet.

Shagufa Kapadia, PhDProfessor of Human Development

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Message from the Guest EditorGender and Media

We live in a world of ‘mediatized realities’. As both consumers and creators of media content, the way weabsorb socio-political realities is being increasingly influenced by media dynamics. In an era dominated byglobalization and media proliferation, it is difficult to overlook media’s effect on gender dynamics, especiallyin the context of a developing country like India. The scenario post the Delhi gang rape (December 2012) hasbecome extremely sensitive and cognizant of gender issues in the public sphere. Media ‘hype’ and ‘intrusion’witnessed after the horrific incident is viewed by some in a positive light, whereby constant media dwellingbrings issues of grave concern to the limelight. However, public opinion on media coverage of gender issueshas been critical of media selectivity and media framing in order to garner audience attention. Presently, mediadebates on gender are propelled by the profit motive, leading to sensational and trivial coverage. It is in thisbackdrop that we set out to examine the nuances of media’s role with respect to gender in the current issue ofthis newsletter. The theme sprang up when the Women’s Studies Research Centre (WSRC) and The Faculty ofJournalism & Communication (FJC) collaborated for a UGC sponsored National Seminar on ‘Gender andMedia Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities’ (October 2013). It was realized that the theme offered anexciting interdisciplinary convergence and an opportunity to invite contributions from different perspectives.Though invariably, deliberations on gender and media restrict their focus on media portrayal of women andtheir experiences, this issue attempts to go beyond conventional discourse. The attempt has been to incorporatewrite-ups from a variety of perspectives such as debates on media coverage of LGBT issues, gender reflectionsin cinema, the politics of gendered debates in India, gender and media technology, gender in media researchand education (a crucial line of thought - training communication professionals). Any discussion on media andgender also involves ‘women in the media’, the circumstances they work under, their work environment andthe politics of gender in the media industry. The issue attempts to bring forth scholars, researchers, academicians,students and practicing media professionals on the same platform to provide a discursive range of ideas on thetheme. This theme is significant because gender sensitive reportage and information dissemination is requiredmore than ever before – since today we are faced with an increased rate of crime/violence towards women andother gender based minorities in the public and private sphere. This calls for a heightened level of awarenessand responsibility on part of the media. A gender sensitive, a gender conscious media is indeed the need of thehour in a democratic political set up like India – wherein the media cannot restrict itself to information andentertainment. The call for media responsibility stares us in the face – especially on issues of gender equality,gender empowerment and gender sensitivity. The present issue attempts to integrate media responses to genderfrom the standpoint of the press, audio-visual media, cinema, media research and media education. Mostimportantly, the newsletter consists of contributions from practising media professionals who encounter newsroutines on a daily basis and thus can provide a real time view of how gender sensitive current media practiceare. The theme itself is interdisciplinary in nature and the contributions in the newsletter are reflective of thesame. It has been our attempt to make this issue comprehensive and dialogic - of immense benefit to scholarsand researchers engaged in different disciplines. Media responses to gender ought to come from every sectionof the society and this issue is a modest beginning in that direction. We hope that with this academic attempt ofours, deliberations on the media’s role with respect to gender will be taken forward at every level, especially incentres of higher education and other scholarly domains. I hope through this issue our readers will look forwardto an exciting and refreshing array of opinions that envisage a free, fair and gender sensitive ‘fourth estate’.

Nidhi Shendurnikar TereSenior Research Fellow (UGC-SRF)Department of Political Science, Faculty of ArtsThe Maharaja Sayajirao University of Barodamailtonidhi@sify.com

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Gender and Media Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities – A ReportKiran Bhatia

Col. Lalit KandpalStudents, (FJC)

Geetha SrinivasanLibrary Assistant

Women’s Studies Research Center

Media plays a crucial role in the struggle for fairgender representation and can bridge the gap betweensocial identities of women and men. The promotionof gender equality both within the workingenvironment and in the portrayal of women throughthe use of fair and positive images, concepts andlanguage can ensure a reconstruction of gender issuesas being independent of the biases of the patriarchaldiscourse. Media has a potential of harnessing thecapacities of women as socio-political actors byencouraging their involvement in technical, decisionmaking and agenda setting activities as opposed toperceiving them as mere audience.

The seminar provided an extensive understanding ofthe dynamic relationship between media and genderissues. The discussion threw light on how media haseither under-represented or misrepresented genderspecific issues which has ensued multipleimplications in terms of insensitive, straight jacketedand negative values being attached to the so called‘second sex’. The sessions forced all to contemplatewhether media has actually created an awakening inpeople that women are the prime movers of changeor has, in negation, purportedly reinforced prejudicesand stereotypes. The seminar provided a stage forconceptualization of new vistas of holisticcomprehension of gender issues. These intellectualdiscussions are incorporated in this report which

serves as a synoptic presentation of the proceedingsof the seminar.

Around 285 participants from all across theUniversity including students, research scholars,lecturers, professors, Heads of the variousDepartments, Deans, Advisory committee members,the Hon. Director of the WSRC and representativesof different NGO’s and other different institutes fromin and around Vadodara graced the seminar with theirpresence.

INAUGURAL SESSION:

Prof. Uma Joshi, Dean, Faculty of Family andCommunity Science, inaugurated the seminar withgeneric remarks about the portrayal of women in thesociety so as to familiarize the audience withpertinent issues related to the core theme. Shedelineated, through a comparison between the eraof 90s and the contemporary situation, how the roleof media failed to rectify societal structure eventuallyresulting in challenges being multiplied. Criticalquestions about societal structures which impedewomen’s development were put forth byProf. Yogesh Singh, the Vice-Chancellor of theM. S. University. He expressed the urgent need toharness the power of technological advancementsto cater to safety demands of girls’ students incolleges. Mobile Technology must be exploited in a

“Gender and Media Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities”UGC sponsored Regional Seminar, held on 5th October, 2013.

Hosted byWomen’s Studies Research Center

Faculty of Family and Community Sciences&

Faculty of Journalism and Communication

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big way to ensure safety to women. The discussionwas taken ahead by Prof. Amit Dholakia, Registrar(O.S.D.) and Director, Communication Cell, as heappreciated this collaborative venture undertaken byFJC and WSRC. He found the theme exciting for ithad a multidisciplinary character and initiateddebates on concepts about gender issues which nevercould achieve a conclusive approach.

SESSION ON “WOMEN IN MEDIA: AREALITY CHECK”

Ms. Kalpana Sharma, Columnist, Former Dy.Editor, The Hindu (Mumbai) talked at length abouthow media defines or represents gender and relatedissues. Level of women participation in anyinstitution reflects the value and authority thatwomen enjoy. She talked about ‘invisibilization’ ofmany cardinal issues that stand a need to findexpression so that society can take developmentalstrides in all domains. These concepts are ignoredas media opts for selective coverage and concentrateson issues which would add to the company’sentertainment quotient. Even crimes against womenare portrayed as a tool to call for attention andimportant issues go unnoticed. Media stoops todeplorable lows in order to sensationalize violenceagainst women, especially rape. Conclusively, sheopined that a possibly influential solution could bea change in men’s mindsets so that they cease fromthinking about women as mere supplementaryobjects. For this it is essential that all men are givenspace wherein they could evolve themselves asindividuals who respect women.

SESSION ON “CHALLENGES ANDOPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN THEWORLD OF ADVERTISING”

Mr. Sanjay Chakraborty, Associate Vice-President,Triton Communications, Ahmedabad, screened amultimedia presentation on ‘Importance of Womenin Advertising’. Women are an integral part of thesociety and play a dominant role in consumer marketswhere many products are especially designedkeeping their needs, inclination and motivation inmind. As women have gradually become self-

dependent and economically empowered they havegreater access to various products and are decisionmakers. Advertisements touch upon these hiddenemotions of self-worth and assurance to attractwomen buyers. Advertising for women orientedproducts needs special treatment to ensure that theyaim the select emotions of the target audience.According to Mr. Sanjay, advertisers first try tounderstand the psyche of potential consumers tocreate effective advertisements. This he termed as‘consumer insights’ which help the agencies todiscover the ‘unthought-of known’ and exploit thesame to garner attention.

INTERACTIVE SESSION

In the open discussion round, several questions wereraised with regard to the concepts discussed by thepanel of expert speakers. The discussion steeredtowards conceptualization of issues such asmodifying media policies to give appropriateexpressions to gender related issues and developingmedia credibility which sells on the basis of intensiveand meaningful journalism. Role of advertisementsin shaping public opinions on gender issues wasdebated upon and led to the rise of consensus thatthough advertising industry depends entirely oncapital generation it can still make space for cateringto societal improvements by refusing to presentnegative images of women which reinforcestereotypes and the age old patriarchal frameworkof existence.

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Quote – Unquote: A Media MirrorTushar TereSpecial CorrespondentThe Times of India (Press-Baroda)tushartere@gmail.com

“The media has started focusing on gender issuesand begun covering it comprehensively over last fewyears. The focus on women’s rights and theirexploitation has sharpened, especially after adventof several news channels that began highlightingwomen’s plight in our country. The intensivecoverage of rapes, honour killings, domestic violenceand sexual harassment has given voice to repressedwomen whose sufferings went unnoticed earlier. But,the media needs to learn to cover gender issues withbit more sensitivity. Rather than sensationalizingissues like rape and honour killings, focus must beon changing the mind-set of our patriarchal societyand empowering women in a real sense. Such overthe top coverage of women’s issues does create ashock effect and forces the authorities to take shortterm measures. But that doesn’t contribute towomen’s emancipation in the long run.”

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Walk the Talk: An ExcerptInterview with Ms. Kalpana Sharma

Nidhi Shendurnikar TereNalanda Tambe

What is your opinion about gendered media?

K.S: The way I would interpret gendered media ismedia that is conscious of gender. You are consciousthat there is something like gender which has to beaddressed in the way media conducts itself in everyform. For instance, stories, headlines, content andplacement of the stories and even advertisements.

That is what I would call a gendered media. I do notknow whether there is an academic definition but asa practitioner if someone says that we need agendered media then I would take it positively. Ofcourse it can also be a negative connotation, meaningthe media is gendered in that your access and abilityto move ahead and the stuff that you can write isdetermined by gender and not by your capability.

INTERVIEW OF MS. KALPANA SHARMA

Ms. Kalpana Sharma, former Deputy Editor and Chief of Bureau of The Hindu (Mumbai) was here at TheMaharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda to talk on ‘Women in Media: A Reality Check’ at a UGC sponsoredregional seminar on ‘Gender and Media’ organized jointly by The Faculty of Journalism & Communicationand Women’s Studies Research Center. Ms. Sharma has over three decades of experience as a full-timejournalist, and has held senior positions in Himmat Weekly, Indian Express and The Times of India. Herspecial areas of interest are environmental and developmental issues. She writes a fortnightly column in TheHindu’s Sunday Magazine section, The Other Half – that comments on contemporary issues from a genderperspective. She is the author of Rediscovering Dharavi: Stories from Asia’s Largest Slum (Penguin 2000) andhas co-edited with Ammu Joseph - Whose News? The Media and Women’s Issues (Sage 1994, 2006) andTerror Counter-Terror: Women Speak Out (2003). She spoke to Nidhi Shendurnikar Tere & Nalanda Tambeabout her views on gender related issues and reportage in the Indian media. Excerpts from the interview arepresented below:

Former Deputy Editor and Chief of Bureau The Hindu (Mumbai)

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How would you relate gender with media literacyand media socialization?

K.S: Either you can say the whole thing of howgendered the media is in terms of access, both interms of reading and accessing it. For those withinthe media it also means their access and ability toget ahead within the profession. That is one aspect.The other aspect what you are talking about is morein terms of content of media and whether it issensitive to gender. In fact if you do a survey youwill see that they are not. It comes out not in themost blatant forms always but with a kind ofinvisibility. Even something as simple as getting anexpert opinion, it’s as if there are no women whoare experts. It’s only men. In the electronic media ifyou want to get opinions of people on anycontroversial issue, you will see all men. Maybe onetoken woman! Over all these years haven’t womengained expertise to be able to express theirknowledge? Due to this fact that it has always beenmen, you have to take that conscious effort to correctthat balance by ensuring that the opinions of womenare incorporated. Similarly in reporting, now at leastthere is some consciousness in the use of noun andpronoun; like ‘he’ and ‘she’. There are many editorsnow who consciously say “she and her”. The editorsspecifically write “she” because we have always said“he”. It’s a small token thing which is important.Moreover, gender neutral terms like “journalists” and“reporters” are also being used but that is not enough.

What is still continuously missing in the media isthat there are many issues which have an impact onwomen, but there is no effort made to assess thatimpact in routine reporting. For every event there isa gendered impact which the media fails tounderstand.

So can media literacy change it?

K.S: Media literacy is again a two way thing. It ishow we read the media. What I am telling you ismedia literacy because I have read the media tounderstand that they are not gendered. However,making our media persons literate is actually whatwe are talking about. Ongoing education forjournalists and people of the media on important

issues can make a difference because at the momentyou get into the media and that is the end of yourtraining. When I joined, we used to have mentoringfrom the seniors. So you would work on the stories,they would look at it and tell you what is wrong andif they edited it then they would explain you whythey did so. If you went on an assignment, your seniorwould brief you before you went. When you cameback you would have a debriefing session where youexplained what you saw and discussed how to dothe best story and what angles to take. None of thesetakes place now. So there is no ongoing educationand definitely there is a need for it. I don’t think atthe moment anyone is even thinking about that. Wehave tried through our women and media networkto intervene especially with topics like sexual assaultwith some media houses and one or two were opento it. This is not insignificant, but very little.

As a media consumer, is it going to make adifference, if I am media literate and aware aboutwhat goes on in the newsroom? Is that going tohelp alter how media consumers look at the waymedia reports on gender issues?

K.S: Even if they question, what difference will itmake to media reporting? Of course there is a needfor media literacy and I think it should be introducedin schools. They should be taught how media shouldbe looked at skeptically, the particular way in whichnews is manufactured and presented.

What is your opinion about the media’s role asan agent of socialization in purview of increasinggender related crimes in society?

K.S: It is an agent of socialization when it comes toreinforcing gender stereotyping. Media keeps ongender stereotyping especially in advertisements. Eg:Media after a sexual assault dwells on what the girlwore and was she drunk or not. So this socializespeople to believe that women who wear certain typesof clothes are the one who get raped. To me the mostdangerous thing is the extremely insensitive mannerin which media reports sexual violence. Details aboutthe crime committed are not necessary, they may benecessary for the case but not for the public. It isjust to get one more story. So the end results are that

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you are not sensitive to the person who has suffered.It also creates an atmosphere of fear which is of nohelp to women. People tend to believe that everythingoutside is more unsafe and dangerous and this is whatthe media successfully projects.

What is your opinion about the media’s role(especially the press) in the Delhi gang rapeincident?

K.S: The gang rape took place in Delhi and it is amedia capital. So before that a Dalit woman wouldhave been raped outside Delhi and nobody wouldhave bothered. This was a girl who was coming froma cinema, right in the middle of Delhi, who rides onthe bus and who got raped. So it had all the elementsof something that the media would jump on. So theydid. Now that the convictions have come, media hasdefinitely played a role in that. One worrying aspectwas we are not allowed to give the identity of thewoman and so media creates fictitious names andthis is completely wrong. You are denying thiswoman a double agency. I mean she feels that shehas lost an agency by the manner she was assaultedand then you go with the name where she doesn’thave any choice. You didn’t ask her that should wecall you Damini or Nirbhaya. Just because you aretoo lazy to figure out how you will report withoutgiving the name, you just decide to give her a name?So that was a very wrong thing on the part of media.Of course after a certain point media startedhorrifying and it just became a circus. The good thingwas the Justice Verma Committee was appointed andlaws were amended. The negative part is that suchcases will go on happening as we have one liveexample of the Mumbai gang rape recently. This isthe media story now. People staying abroad now saythat people in India have become very dangerousfor women because of the kind of hype in Indiamedia.

Was the media very intrusive during the Delhigang rape and did it go overboard? Where is themedia when rapes are happening all over thecountry?

K.S: Obviously, the selection of this particular one,apart from the horror of it was because of the factthat it was a Delhi based rape. Even Bombay gangrape didn’t get so much hype. The Mumbai girl hassurvived and she is a brave girl as she went and filed

an FIR immediately. Many such cases are not givenspace in the media.

So does that signify the need for media attentionfor justice to be delivered? Are we proceedingtowards a state of affairs where media hype isrequired to procure justice? Is this a positive ornegative trend?

K.S: It’s a negative thing. As ultimately the criminaljustice system must work for everybody and theexception cannot be the rule. What is happening nowis that we are just concentrating on these exceptions.Ultimately people who are more educated and betteroff are able to draw attention and get the justice thatthe poor do not get. So that is what is to be addressed.A woman of any caste, if she is assaulted then sheshould be confident to go the police. There is nosystem wherein if a victim of sexual violence reportsto a hospital, there are no facilities whereimmediately forensic reports are taken andcounseling is done. Even if she files a case, it’s along process after that. There are many issues andconcerns to be accounted for.

There is no effort by the local media on such issues.What they would usually do is to sensationalize thestory and use it to create hype after which it fizzlesdown. There is no follow up and hence basic issuesremain unaddressed. It is certainly good to havemechanisms in place but what about the effort onpart of the media to investigate whether these arefunctional or not?

The responsibility cannot be only on the media.Whatever the systems that are put in place aredependent on the higher authorities and they alsohave to take efforts to ensure implementation.However media scrutiny always helps. For instancetake the entire justice system. The media there canonly address specific issues. What can be doneinstead is newspapers can ask their reporters to takefollow ups of certain cases every year which neednot be the high profile ones.

What is your opinion about imparting gendersensitive training to media professionals?

K.S: It is very much needed. One way is throughjournalism courses. Gender sensitive reportingshould be a compulsory component in all the mediatraining courses. Also I think you can bring in thejournalists who are conscious of the media aspect

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and will do something about it. Secondly, I think allthe media schools can contact their local media andoffer them gender trainings. So it’s possible that youget a response because if it is some university thenthey might think that there isn’t some other agenda,so they might respond. On the other hand if the editorfinds a need to impart such training to the journaliststhen it is quite possible because the journaliststhemselves won’t sense any need to take the training.Certainly there has to be an intervention. Ournetwork of women and media in Mumbai approachedtwo newspapers on the issue of gender sensitivetraining and we conducted a half-day workshop onthis for the entire staff. We really had a gooddiscussion about reporting of sexual assaults. Afterthis workshop both the organizations reported suchissues very sensitively by not disclosing the namesof victims of sexual assaults. So something goodhappened after our efforts.

Do corporatization, commercialization andsensationalism in the media impact the coverageof gender based issues?

K.S: I don’t think gender based issues generally butI think it is gender based violence. This is because itlinks between the selling of the product and the kindof product which will sell it. So the conclusion iscrimes of passion, of murders, suicides in prominentindividuals; all these people like to read about andso they will give full coverage. All the newspapersnow have space for the crime reports. They give halfa page to the crime stories. Graphic and minutedetails are given and in suicide literally how thesuicide is committed is also covered. You seenewspapers anywhere else in the world and you willnever see this. In India though, commercializationin media has completely gone off-board. There is nosense of balancing issues and whatever sells is givenpriority.

Get an Education, Grab that Technology...Help YourselfNiti Chopra

Officiating Dean Faculty of Journalism and Communication

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Barodan_chopra1@yahoo.co.in

Backdrop

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend the inaugural day proceeds of the National EducationSummit held under the aegis of Vibrant Gujarat 2014 titled “Towards Educating Young India”; a wide and aptplatform where educationists from top Universities and Institutes in the state and few from abroad, as wellVice Chancellors from many Universities in India had congregated to make presentations and discuss thismuch relevant and topical theme. Beginning with the inaugural plenary addressed by the Provost of partnercountry Italy, the emphasis that set the tone of the deliberations was “Interdisciplinarity”. The echo thatresounded through the day was that it is now relevant more than ever before to augment and fulfill the completescope of offering varied , but pertinent choices of subjects to study at all levels in the education system,particularly Higher Education. Interestingly, University Grants Commission (UGC) and National KnowledgeCommission (NKC) too have strongly recommended that a student entering into any stream should get a widerchoice of subjects. Responding to this call, most Universities in Gujarat today have made the shift to Semestersystem and offer CBCS (Choice Based Credit System). The emphasis on computer education and use ofmodern technologies at all levels now is of course, a given.

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1. WSRC-MSU offers two such courses: Women, Society andDevelopment, and Women, Rights and Laws; both of 3 creditseach.

2. Google India’s hwgo (Helping Women Get Online) projectis a very interesting case in point (www.hwgo.com)

Women and Millennium Development Goals

In international politics, women and men have longbeen viewed as having different roles andresponsibilities in the maintenance and developmentof societies. During the growth of NGOs andinternational institutions, little attention was paid towomen’s movements and women’s activism. TheUnited Nations (UN) has always worked to equalizegender disparity, at least in some contexts; howeverit wasn’t until 1995, at the Fourth World Conferenceon Women that women rights were officiallyrecognized as human rights. Over the past 18 years,the UN has worked towards the advancement ofwomen’s rights, as well as improving the livingconditions for persons around the world. In recentyears, information and communication technology(ICT), social media, traditional media and internetaccess have contributed to providing easier accessfor women to be engaged in international politics,and the work of the UN. The act of including womenin all aspects of the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) signifies a global change in attitudestowards women, and their value in development,regardless of whether or not all the goals are met1.

Inspired by the Millennium Declaration, thesubsequent eight Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) accompanied by a set of time-bound targetsand indicators served as a road map to monitorprogress. Progress towards the MDGs so far has beenuneven, and significant gaps and challenges remainin their implementation for women and girls. As the2015 target date for their achievement approaches,efforts to accelerate implementation are intensifying.At the same time, intergovernmental and UN-ledprocesses are well under way to inform and design apost-2015 development agenda and SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs). Since 2015 also marksthe twentieth anniversary of the Fourth WorldConference on Women and the adoption of theBeijing Declaration and Platform for Action,implementation of the commitments made nearly 20years ago have taken on new urgency.

The Gender and Media Intersection

An intersection is that space, a junction where linesor roads or surfaces cross or intersect. What makesit interesting, and quite antithetically so, is that withinthe apparent bounds of the seam of the intersectionactually lie limitless possibilities of what one can

observe and do. Media, as they evolved in thetwentieth century have always been technologydriven. The technical multipronged growth of themedia also spontaneously led to its permeation intosociety, and inadvertently led to their taking intoambit the issues of the time, contentious or otherwise.Themes around gender and feminism always havingbeen sensitive in nature, inevitably found a place inmedia purview. Hence, the Gender and MediaIntersect has always remained a very exciting one.

However, there are two distinct ways in which thisinterface can be further strengthened. One is thatpersons working in sector/s of women’s issues shouldtry to effectively reach out to the media thoughappropriate conduits, as also create topicalinformative material which could be used from timeto time. But what might best work is that if, inkeeping with the educational reforms that are beingcurrently implemented, the mainstream educationalmodes are tapped by offering courses on GenderStudies1 through which students may earn credits —that would be one of the most surefooted way to go.Second, media education institutes will have to treadthe interdisciplinary path too. Mere exposure tocritical issues may not suffice any more. Instead,students should have to subscribe and partake fullyin the proceeds of all the learning methodologies andrequired coursework, understand the concepts, andfinally attain the desired objectives and outcomes.This complete exercise alone, will equip them tocompetently and sensitively treat the gender issuesthat they will face, personally and as practicingcommunication professionals.

This mutual synergy between the Gender and Mediasectors would help reduce arbitrary and tokenisticapproaches to representation of women’s issues andportrayals in the public domain and lead to the morenecessary, meaningful and perhaps even correctiveones. Today, women themselves are empowered touse tools of the communications and media trade.New Media offers tremendous scope to create andshare information on wide and easily accessibleplatforms2.

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Ushering in Pedagogy of Change

Finally, the Commission on the Status of Women, atits upcoming 58th session in March 2014 (CSW58),has a critical opportunity for evaluating resultsachieved through the MDG framework from a genderperspective; to better understand the achievementsand challenges in implementing the MDGs forwomen and girls; accelerate progress in achievingthe MDGs; and identify key gender equality issuesto be addressed, including in the ongoing debate onthe post-2015 development framework. Thediscussions and outcomes of the session should alsocontribute to the Beijing+20 process and add impetusto preparations at all levels. In interactive panels,the Commission will focus on experiences, lessonslearned and good practices. It will assessachievements and identify gaps and challenges;discuss ways and means to accelerate achievementof the MDGs for women and girls, and for givingpriority to a comprehensive vision of gender equality,women’s rights and empowerment in the post-2015development agenda. The Commission will adoptagreed conclusions that are expected to identify gapsand challenges in the implementation of existingcommitments and address action-orientedrecommendations to states, relevantintergovernmental bodies, mechanisms and entities.

In keeping with the theme this year of the CSWsession “… access and participation of women andgirls to education, training, science and technology,including for the promotion of women’s equal accessto full employment and decent work3 …”, one hopes,that cogent thought and acknowledgement will begiven to local, indigenous educational endeavors, thetangible outcomes they lead to, and the significantcontributions these make towards the larger globalreckoning. Ultimately, in a broad sense, a shifttowards a healthy perception of gender roles canactually lead to resolving the myriad problems thatplague our society. Most of the challenges, whicheventually take on complicated dimensions andsometimes turn cumulatively destructive, sadlyemanate from these very innate, discriminativetendencies. It is clear that today women are equalpartners in the processes of change and development,sharing everything with a sense of deep equanimity.In the attempts towards making this to be understoodand accepted, an endemic academic approach,undertaken and implemented at the grassroots andin as early an interventional way as possible, thoughappearing to be seemingly pedantic and dry, may justturn out to be the more lasting, humanizing andhealing solution.

References :

Women and the millennium development goals. (n.d.)Retrieved from http://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/theblogofvalerie/2013/12/06/women-and-the-millennium-development-goals/

Millennium development goals and post-2015 development agenda. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/mdg.shtml

Commission on the status of women CSW58 (2014). Retrieved from http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw58-2014

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Promoting Gender Mainstreaming in Media Education and ResearchArchana Chanuvai Narahari

Media Educator, Vadodara, Gujaratcn_archana@yahoo.co.in

The constructions of gender through media are predominantly evident since ages at the global level. These arerelentlessly taking new shapes along with constant cultural changes. This scenario is throwing new challengesto media from time to time. In fact, this situation questions the media’s greater responsibility, as its role is notjust to scour gender stereotypes being projected in media, but also to sensitize the society towards gendermainstreaming for well-being and social justice to women, as well as men.

Gender mainstreaming in various fields has been established not just as a role, but as a global strategy since theUnited Nations (UN) called for collective action from The Fourth United Nations World Conference onWomen in Beijing in 1995 (UN, 2002). In this milieu, media undoubtedly showed a sort of positive responseby enhancing ‘space’ for women’s issues. Subsequently many questions have been raised on under-representationof women in media, their portrayal in limited roles etc. Issues with regard to status of women in journalism andother media professions have also been discussed vividly.

Besides encouraging a constant public discourse to resolve this bias and without discouraging any action takentill date – an appropriate way to address this issue is to mandatorily incorporate gender mainstreaming in apedagogical approach. This should be included at all levels i.e. at Universities, Institutes and all organizationsthat offer courses and training programmes in the field of journalism and mass media. However, the focus ofmedia education and research in this area remains meager. According to Morna & Shilongo (2003) mediatraining, like any other training consists of three main components – skills, knowledge and attitudes; and it isthe attitude training that ranks the lowest. For promoting gender awareness, one needs to challenge the deepseated attitudes and stereotypes nurtured throughout the life.

Despite recommendations by the University Grants Commission (UGC), universities in the country have along way to go in strengthening the overall mechanism and nurture gender mainstreaming into teaching-learning practices in a serious way. Some measures to promote gender mainstreaming at University level andparticularly in media education are given below.

University level workshops can be encouraged for all representatives (Teachers, student representatives,other staff) of all faculties and departments to ensure that representatives or decision-makers are equippedwith knowledge and skills to maintain gender in-house practices.

Various issues pertaining to – students and staff approach towards gender; how to incorporate gendermainstreaming in teaching methods; modifications in syllabi, course modules; procuring and providingproper study material on gender issues, drafting guidelines for implementation of in-house training andworkshops at faculty or department level, identifying key components for attitude training; feedbackmechanisms etc. can be delineated in university level workshops.

While encouraging inter-disciplinary approach in media studies, a separate paper on “Gender and Media”can be incorporated for a ground theoretical understanding of key gender and media issues.

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Micro-level interventions with media students should be encouraged as a part of course-curriculum to bringabout changes in skills, knowledge and attitudes on various key issues such as:• Gender in media content.

• Representation of women in media.

• Periodical variations in media’s approach towards gender issues.

• The context and situations associated with the status, morals and dignity of women in society and theirimplication in media content.

• Impact of the gender biased content portrayed by media on society.

• Status of working women in the field of journalism and mass media.

• The code of conduct, policies and procedures adopted by the media houses for gender-mainstreaming inthe media organizations, as well as in media content, and the associated loop-holes.

• A general understanding on positive impact of incorporating gender mainstreaming in society and itscontribution to the achievement of socio-economic objectives.

• An understanding of positive impact on society, when such a gender neutral approach is adopted andpracticed particularly by the media.

• To understand how to bring equilibrium between media commercialism and mobility for social cause.

• Recognizing gender dimensions in all types of reporting like investigative, in-depth, financial, conflict,lifestyle, development etc. to dismiss associated prejudices and to generate new and positive story ideas.

• As a part of capacity building initiatives and for affirming good practice and knowledge creation, studentsshould be thoroughly provided with proper gender-aware articles, research and training material.

• Dissertations and research papers on various identified gender and media related issues should be highlyencouraged, which could encourage policy makers at industry level to look into betterment of such issues.

• For practical sessions, media students should be encouraged to make direct programmes like short films,documentaries, radio skits, ad campaigns etc. on gender sensitization issues; or produce general creativeprogrammes with absolute ‘gender neutral’ approach.

• Community journalism projects can be initiated with a close vigilant eye on major community levelproblems, and hidden gender related issues. These on-the-job training projects would involve thoroughresearch and observation, field surveys, interaction with local population, deep root-cause analysis andthereby proper media programme planning.

• Media students should be trained to inculcate the habit of creating awareness on such issues by using newmedia platforms like Blogs, Twitter and Facebook and YouTube.

• Collaboration of media departments in universities with non-governmental organizations & researchinstitutes working on gender issues should be spear-headed by teaching faculty to provide a holisticeducational experience to media students and sensitize them towards pressing issues in society.

References :

Morna, C.L. & Shilongo, P. (2003). Mainstreaming gender into media education. Retrieved from http://www.genderlinks.org.za/article/mainstreaming-gender-into-media-education-2005-06-07

United Nations Report (2002). Gender mainstreaming – An overview. Litho in United Nations. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/pdf/e65237.pdf

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Women in Media in the age of Globalization

It is indeed very intriguing that women who havebeen ideally viewed as ‘Shakti’ and that all poweremanates from her have been ridiculed to such anextent that she needs to be empowered once more todefend her degenerated status. Demons surround herand as such she needs to defend herself to avenge allwrongs. It is indeed hard to find women who havenot been relegated to a secondary position. She is attimes discriminated, exploited and proved wrong atevery possible circumstance. Her existence has beenreduced to a continuous battle for survival.

There are series of problems that plague women –poor health indicators, lower literacy rates, lowerincome levels, poor female to male ratio, femaleinfanticide and much more. The media, instead oftaking up the case of exploited women, often tend tosensationalize atrocities on women. It is theresponsibility of the media to be fair and objectivewhile reporting crimes against women. Media is apowerful tool to enable women to justify theirposition in all aspects of life - be it social, economicor political.

Television to a large extent portrays women asindividuals lacking identity and self-worth – asdomestic, pretty, having children, bringing them upand imposing responsibility on their men to act asbread-earners. The leading ladies in populartelevision serials are exhibited as tormentors orvictims; whereas men are reduced to inconsequentialobjects and are often in a fix to break them free fromthe web of unfavorable circumstances.

Movies as well as magazine advertisements are veryexplicit and treat women as sex objects Women havelong lost their true identity in cinema. They tend to

emerge either as pretty, docile and dependentindividuals or they are just the opposite – strong,independent or half-clothed sexy dolls. Indiancinema has depicted some of the worst forms ofviolence on women and the approach adoptedtowards women’s issues can be characterized asinsensitive. However, TV serials like ‘Rajni’ andfilms like ‘Damini’ (1993) go a long way in positivelyprojecting women who have championed their causeof independence and self-support.

Magazines for women often have articles on‘feminine instincts’ - to keep men and their in-lawshappy and seldom comment on career opportunities,health awareness, entrepreneurship and issues ofidentity. There should be objective representation ofwomen both in the public and private sectors ofmedia. This would ensure a source of livelihood forthem along with their adequate and effectiverepresentation in the society.

In the present world, alternative media has a majorrole to perform. It advocates democratization ofcommunication and different information andinterpretations that can support social struggles,awaken women’s consciousness to theirsubordination, advocate and defend rights and canequip grassroots women leaders to be the voice ofchange. Information and communication technology(ICT) together with other forms of communicationcan allow women to bring in economic and socialprogress and make informed decision on differentissues they are connected with. Thus, women can bepotentially tapped by ICTs which have a greatcapacity to encourage and support women to findtheir place in the information revolution.

Baishakhi NagLecturer

Dept. of Journalism & Mass Communication Bhairab Ganguly College , Kolkata

budhaditya.eco@gmail.com

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References:

Chatterjee, S. (2012, September 15). “Are Women not part of our being?” The Hindu. Retreived from http//thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/are-women-not-part-of-our- being/article 3901569.ece

Chaudhuri, A. (2012). Globalization, media and women empowerment. New Delhi: Akhand.

Joseph, A. & Sharma, K. (2006). Whose news? The media and women’s issues. New Delhi: Sage.

Joshi, S. C. (2004). Women empowerment: Myth and reality. New Delhi: Akhand.

Parikh, I., & Garg, P.K. (1989). Indian women: An inner dialogue. New Delhi: Sage.

Srivastava, S.K. & Agarwal, S. (2004). Do the visual media contribute to violence against women? Journal of Social Sciences, 9 (1),63-65

Hindi Soap Operas: A Boon or Bane?

Do you relate any Hindi Television Soap Opera storyor any of its character to your own life? This wasone of the key questions put to women respondentsfor the research survey under the topic “Effects ofPopular Hindi Television Soap Operas on Womenin Vadodara”, a dissertation research project ofMasters in Communication Studies. One of therespondents replied, “Yes, it does”. It was a part ofa story in a soap opera which changed myperspective on certain critical issues in life. I amvery thankful to my parents who insisted that I watchthis serial. It’s like I have started a new journey inlife”. I was forced to question myself, when and howdid Hindi serials empower women by the way of allthe drama and twists that are an integral part of theirstoryline? To my surprise, I discovered that it wasPunar Vivah (2012) broadcasted on Zee TV whichinfluenced the respondent to remarry and think ofher child’s (from her first husband) future.

Through the research work that I am currentlycarrying out, there were many respondents who werenot serious towards the questions that I put in thesurvey and interview research. Well, rarely though,I gave a second thought to changing the research

topic. Soap operas are for entertainment and for thosewho like watching melodramatic plots. Someinstances caught my attention. It was a Gujaratiwedding in the city and I was invited for all the majorceremonies. For the first time in my life I saw non-gujarati rituals being adapted from the reel to reallife. One of the prime objectives of the research studywas to understand the effects of Hindi TV Soaps onthe lifestyles of women in Vadodara. The presentday women adjusts all her household work duringadvertisements aired between serials and makes surethat she doesn’t miss a single episode of herfavourite soap opera.

The present phase

At the period of initiation of Hindi Television soapoperas in India, serials like ‘Hum log’(1984),‘Buniyaad’ (1986), ‘Shanti’(1994), ‘Swabhiman’(1995), ‘Humraahi’(1994) left a social message forthe society to absorb. Aspects like education, familyplanning and justice were reflected through thestories of the above mentioned serials. Then camethe Saas Bahu sagas by Ekta Kapoor, popularlyknown as the Queen of Hindi serials. The focus of

Bhakti PatelStudent

Master of Communication StudiesFaculty of Journalism and Communication

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Barodabigdreamss25@gmail.com

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the serials at that point shifted from delivering socialmessages to conflicts in family, rich business family’slifestyle and traditional issues. The ‘K’ series hadumpteen similarities in its storylines like conflictshatched in by vamps in the family, death of theprotagonist, reappearance of the leading man/ladyand much more melodrama. People were keen topredict the way the story line would proceed evenbefore it was telecasted. Such was the clamour andcraze for TV soaps. Serials like ‘Na Aana Is DesLaado’(2009), Balika Vadhu’ (2008), ‘Diya aur BaatiHum’(2011), ‘Parvarish’(2011), ‘Amrit Manthan’(2012), ‘Jee le Zara’ (2013) came to limelight as thetrend again seems to shift to soaps that can provideboth entertainment and social messages. Theseserials emphasize on parent-child relationship andsocial problems that prevail in society. These soapstalk about issues such as child marriage, death,marriage, divorce, romance, friendship and the roleof the female protagonist in her marital home. These‘social realistic conventions’ lure as well as keep theviewers engrossed.

From the on-going research, it was observed it isnot only melodrama or a social message that drivesattention of the audience. The glamour, traditions,culture, rituals, fashion and the lifestyle of womendepicted on screen also influences women to a largerextent. The clothing, style and fashion of protagonistsand vamps capture an influential demand in themarket. Talking about the fashion in trend ‘Sarees’create a rage among women, especially among youngwomen and girls. Eg: ‘Akshara Suits’ featured in ‘Yeh

Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ (2009) became a trend setterin the market. Trends in fashion set in by soap operashave flourished in the Indian markets in recent times.Inspired by this, an online blog https://indiaemporim.com/blog/ethnic-fashion-reinstated-by-indian-soap-operas has set an example throughtheir ‘Akshara Suit’ collection and ‘Rashmi DesaiSaree’ collection. Rashmi Desai’s negative role as‘Tapasya’ in “Uttaran” (2008) has won greatadmiration from several quarters for her character’ssense of fashion and dressing.

To many young women in India, TV soaps representa communication medium that can influence positivechange. Soap operas impart traditional values thatdo not threaten the Indian culture and minimise theexcessive proliferation of western influence. Fromthe preliminary analysis in the present research study,it is estimated that influence of screen lifestyle,glamour and fashion is visible more on housewivesthan on working women. More number of workingwomen reject the idea of adapting the fictionallifestyle into their personal lives; however, some ofthem were definitely influenced by fashion in termsof clothing projected in selected serials. Through theon-going study on television serials and their effectson women it is observed that popular culture asreflected in these soap operas has made a space inthe heart and house of women in Vadodara – for someare largely influenced by cultural ethos depicted inpopular serials whereas some remain immune to thesame.

References :

Ahmed, D. A. (2012). Women and soap-operas: Popularity, portrayal and perception. International Journal of Scientific and ResearchPublications, 2(6), 1-6.

Bakshi, P. (2011, April 1). Relating to TV soap characters. Retrieved from http://thehoot.org/web/Relating-to-TV-soap-Characters/5214-1-1-25-true.html

Ethnic fashion reinstated by Indian soap operas!.(n.d.) Retrieved from https://indiaemporim.com/blog/ethnic-fashion-reinstated-by-indian-soap-operas

Gokulsing, K. (2004). Soft-soaping India:The world of Indian televised soap operas. Wiltshire: Cromwell.

Gruha, A. (2013, March 6). Flawed Portrayals demean women. Retrieved from http://thehoot.org/web/Flawedportrayalsdemeanwomen/6633-1-1-14-true.html

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Mobile Phones and Gender: A Technological Bridge Chhavi Garg

Senior Research Fellow (UGC-SRF)School of Communication Studies

Panjab University, Chandigarhchhavy10@gmail.com

Gender has always been a distinguishing factor in a society. And media is no different from it. Gender andmedia have together remained a topic of discussion, primarily the projection of women in media. However,the coming of new media has given a new direction to this discussion as new media is both about technologyand content. New media is more about personal media unlike mass media such as radio or television.Hence, use and ownership of new media have become topics of discussion. New media are largely definedas mobile phones and internet. In fact, the two have been integrated on mobile phones (now being calledsmart phones) as internet can easily be accessed on them. “Technology has usually been positive towardsmen” (Malhotra et al, 2012). But mobile phone seems to be a technology that is bridging the gap betweentwo genders in society whether it is in terms of economic independence, safety, social interaction, playingmultiple roles or of ownership.

Mobile phones have helped women in becoming economically independent. They have enabled women tostart and successfully run small businesses by coordinating number of activities on their phones (Women &Mobile, Horst & Miller, 2007). They coordinate through mobile phones with their retailers, partners andcustomers without constraints of time and distance. They have become independent as voiced by JasubenMalek, a member of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Gujarat, India, “I used to wonderabout this machine called a mobile phone, but once I began to use it, I realized its many advantages. I canimmediately call the wholesale market to inquire about prices and place direct orders. I have eliminated themiddleman. I am now recognized as a businesswoman, growing and selling sesame seeds and not just assomebody’s wife or sister” (Women & Mobile,11, 2013). Many women are also able to operate from theirhomes through mobile phones as they take orders for their business on mobile phones and get goods deliveredthrough agents. Working from their home, they are able to look after families as well earn their livelihood. Notonly in businesses but also in the service sector, women are able to play their roles in their families in anefficient way. They coordinate activities of their children and other family members through mobile phones.Safety of women which has always been an important issue and it has received a boost from mobile phones(Ling, 2007).

A number of mobile applications available these days serve as a shield for women. Empirical research alsosuggests that one of the main purposes of owning a mobile phone is for safety and security among women. Interms of ownership, mobile phones seem to have been owned by quite a number of women as compared toother technologies till date. For instance, landline telephones are usually in the name of head of the house andin patriarchal societies, it is usually the male member of the family. Landline telephone is not a personalmedium like a mobile phone. Moreover, mobile phones have helped women to connect to the larger socialnetworking groups and forums. Though mobile phones are a boon to women, but since technology can also bea bane, the case of mobile phones is no different. Stalking, harassment, unwanted calls are some of the irritantsthat this technology has brought about. However, mobile phones are a potent technology for furthering theambit of women’s freedom and development.

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Understanding Gender and Media: A Novice PerspectiveKandarp Talati

Public Health ResearcherFoundation for Diffusion of Innovations

Ahmedabadkandarp.talati@gmail.com

As a beginner, the first thing was to understand whatis meant by gender and media. Whether ArnabGoswami, Barkha Dutt, Deepak Chaurasia, ShereenBhan, Shoma Chaudhury and Tarun Tejpal denote“gender”; and Times Now, NDTV, India News,CNBC-TV18 and Tehelka signify “media”? In theIndian context, journalists, their gender and mediaprofessionals well define “gender and media”, as itis all about providers’ perspective and communityperspective rarely matters – at large. However, thisis only a part of what gender in context of mediadenotes. To understand the term with some moreclarity, I turned to Google, with the key search term– Gender and Media. Most of the top searchesrevealed gender and media as related to womenempowerment and gender equality in and throughmedia. Some articles also blamed media for underrepresenting women and stereotypical framing of themale and female gender.

The Confusion

How can we blame media for content bias and genderinequity, when it is showing pretty ‘perfect masala’content that the larger audience wants to view. Evenif the media attempts to portray something different,audience tends to criticize it since the content maynot suit their expectations. As audiences, we arealmost used to a certain kind of media content andthe socialization process that we undergo plays amajor role in determining our expectations from themedia. May be it is we (the audience) who wish tosee gender inequity in media coverage, and are pretty

much appreciative of stereotypical framing of genderroles.

No more Gender Bias – Are we prepared?

We are responsible, at least in parts, if not completelyin this contentious and debatable issue of gender andmedia. While many of us are well acquainted intweeting and posting comments on popular socialmedia platforms like Twitter and Facebook inresponse to ongoing news telecast or live debates,not many of us are as much sensitive towards genderissues and prepared to collectively resist what couldbe considered as a societal evil.

The Answer

Technology platforms that fueled India AgainstCorruption (IAC) movement as well as thenationwide protest after Nirbhaya’s rape incident;could certainly be utilized by all the well-wishers ofgender issues to make their concerns heard andspread awareness among community members. Suchplatforms have certainly redefined the presence ofmodern day media and social media can be a gamechanger if utilized as a crowd-sourced media1.

Media is bound to reflect our voices if we could make#gender and media trending on popular social mediaplatforms. Under this hash tag we can report crime,

References :

Malhotra, A. Kanesathasan, A. & Patel, P. (2012). Connectivity: How mobile phones, computers and the internet can catalyzewomen’s entrepreneurship. Retrieved from http://www.icrw.org/files/publications/Connectivity-how-mobile-phones-computers-and-the internet-can-catalyze-womens-entrepreneurship.pdf

Horst, H.A. & Miller, D. (2007). The cell phone: Anthropology of communication. New York, NY: Berg.Ling, R. (2007).What would Durkheim have thought? : Living in (and with) the information society. Retrieved from http://

www.richardling.com/papers/2007_What_would_Durkheim_have_thought pdf

1 Crowd-sourced media could be a dedicated page on Facebook,# on Twitter or a social media website where people aroundthe globe could act as citizen journalists and report thehappenings around them under dedicated categories or allunder one page.

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domestic and sexual violence; gender discriminationin societies and at workplaces with regards to rightsfor equal opportunities and access to expression anddecision-making; policies favoring gender equity;strategies to mute opposition from conservative sub-groups; and support required at local level to promotecommunity engagement and gender sensitivity. Thiscould be done with special emphasis on certaincategories of vulnerable populations, such aschildren, adolescents, women, poor, elderly, or thosebelonging to ethnic minorities and indigenousgroups.

Global Forum on Media and Gender is one suchrepresentative platform that aims to promotecitizens’- media dialogue on gender equality throughformation of a Global Alliance for Media and Gender.Nordic Gender & Media Forum is another regionalforum that facilitates discussion about genderequality in the media and is financed by the NordicCouncil of Ministers.

The Power of Technology: Some AstonishingFacts

There is a reason behind advocating effectiveutilization of social media platforms and that rangesfrom high penetration of smartphones and mobileinternet among Indian youth as well as higher socialmedia engagement. Smartphone penetration among16-18 years age group has significantly increasedfrom 5 percent in 2012 to 22 percent in 20131.

India ranks No.2 with 52 percent smartphonesubscriber growth and No.5 among the top countriesfor smartphone users with 67 million smartphonesubscribers in 20132. However, it has also beenrevealed that half of the smartphone users are notusing mobile internet; and among those havingaccess to mobile internet are increasingly accessingonline apps and browsing has significantly declined.

As far social media engagement is concerned, e-Marketer’s latest forecast revealed that India is likelyto report 37.4 percent year over year growth in 2013with regards to social networker numbers, ascompared to 14.2 percent global average. MoreoverIndia is also expected to become the country withthe largest Facebook population in the world by20163.

Towards Change

While these figures might be astounding, one mustremember the other side of the coin. Social networkuser penetration is limited to less than 8 percent ofthe Indian population and the penetration ofsmartphones is just about 6 percent as a percentageof total mobile users in India. Internet penetration isalso limited to just over 11 percent of the totalpopulation4. So next time when we use the internetor social media to raise our voice for any issue ofsocietal concern, including gender issues in themedia, we must not forget to lend our voice andaccess to technology to support those whose voicesand experiences are absent from mainstream mediadiscourse.

References :

Nerurkar, S. (2013, September 08). Teens drive Indian smartphone sales, study finds. The Times of India. Retrieved from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Teens-drive-Indian-smartphone-sales-study-finds/articleshow/22406572.cms

Rai, A. (2013, May 30). India has 67M smartphone users; desi netizens more open to sharing everything online: Mary Meeker.Retrieved from http://techcircle.vccircle.com/2013/05/30/india-has-67m-smartphone-users-desi-netizens-more-open-to-sharing-everything-online-mary-meeker/

India leads worldwide social networking growth. Retrieved from http://www.emarketer.com/Article/India-Leads-Worldwide-Social-Networking-Growth/1010396

Vikas, S. (2012, December 4). India has 137 million internet users & 44 million smartphone subscribers. Retrieved from http://www.medianama.com/2012/12/223-india-has-137-million-internet-users-44-million-smartphone-subscribers-report/

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One Step Forward and Two Steps BackKhushboo H. Balani

Research InternDepartment of Economics, Monk Prayogshala,

Mumbaikb@monkprayoshala.in

Almost a century has elapsed since the inception ofIndian cinema; however, the status of womencontinues to remain elusive. We have traversed a longpath in virtually every aspect of filmmaking and thejourney has been linear for almost everything.Perhaps the statement which best summarizes thedebate surrounding the status of women is, “thingshave changed...” The ellipsis will be filled dependingon which end of the spectrum one belongs. Fromwhere I see, Indian cinema, when it comes to therepresentation of woman, is “regressivelyprogressive”, or “progressively regressive”. Almostevery genre in mainstream cinema has reflected achange in the underlying dynamics for women. Therehas been a change in the way a woman’s role is beingapproached, but the changes are generally more akinto the phrase mentioned above.

While on one hand, the quintessential liberated urbanwoman is being celebrated, on the other hand, sheultimately has to either modify her modernity toconveniently suit the tradition or face ostracism. Amovie like Cocktail(2012) simultaneously applaudsthe liberated female (Deepika Padukone asVeronica), who chooses to stay true to the flavour ofthe land she has inhabited, and also lays bare thedouble standards, whereby the liberated woman isultimately rejected for the girl (Diana Penty asMeera) who stays close to her roots across shores!The archetypal masala movies make us wonderwhether there’s always something worse coming up.While today women are offered more screen spacein these misogynistic movies [Sonakshi Sinha inRowdy Rathore (2012), Dabangg (2010) andR...Rajkumar (2013)], they continue to be portrayedas cardboard characters, and reinforce the myths ofdamsel in distress and femme fatale. The spy moviesapparently have improved the status of women, byallotting them equal roles as spy or assistant, animprovement over their sheer objectification in thepast; but many of these female characters just end

up being collateral damage. For instance, AgentVinod (2012) and Hero-Love story of a spy (2003).Surprisingly Ek Tha Tiger (2012) is more optimisticabout their fate.

The female desire today is receiving morerecognition and respect, even though malechauvinism continues. While Aiyya (2012) soundedlike a mockery of the female desire, Ishqiya (2010)and Ramleela (2013) were more balanced in theirapproach, though in the latter, the male protagonisthogged the limelight. This year’s release B.A. Pass(2013) on the other hand is a very unapologeticpresentation of female passion. Adultery alsocontinues to be the domain of men in Indian cinemaand even today they are graciously pardoned by theirloving wives. The wives take the detour of datinganother guy for the sole motive of bringing theirphilandering husbands back on the “right” track; forinstance, Thank U (2011), Shaadi No.1 (2005), Masti(2004) and Grand Masti (2013). Strangely, KaranJohar’s hotch-potch Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006)is more gender equal with respect to adultery! Andsurprisingly, they gross a huge amount. Case in point,Grand Masti is a part of the hundred crore club.Astitiva (2000) and Arth (1982) prove to beexceptions to the rule by examining the underlyingcomplexities of the phenomenon. In fact,interestingly, the female protagonist played byShabana Azmi in Arth, takes the bolder step ofturning the tables on her husband and leaves him forgood. And the 21st century woman, the so-called“educated, liberated, independent” woman believesthat her adherence to traditional belief triumphs herself-respect.

In contrast, women centric movies seem to be amixed bag. While Kahaani (2012), The Dirty Picture(2011), Fashion (2008) and Heroine (2012) celebratethe unabashed liberated woman, these womenreinforce stereotypes rather than breaking free from

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their clutches. Movies like English Vinglish (2012)and That Girl in Yellow Boots (2011) on the otherhand, propagate the belief that the problem is toocomplex to provide any simple answers. However,there is some ray of optimism with respect to thegenre of romance, which while predominantlyheterosexual in its approach, is indeed exploringvarious dimensions. Here, women have a greater sayin relationships [Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012)]; agedifferences in courtship are being explored in bothways [Cheeni Kum (2007), Wake Up Sid (2009), DilChahta Hai (2001)]; single motherhood is respected(Paa (2009)); and romance in old age is being

explored in non-stereotypical ways [Shirin FarhadKi Toh Nikal Padi (2012), Baghban (2003) and TheLunchbox (2013)]. And perhaps, it is ultimately thisgenre that is going to redeem Bollywood. Theproblem thus, with Indian cinema is that it isstraddling between tradition and modernity. With thenew wave of feminism and globalisation, genderdynamics have changed at the home and theworkplace. What we are witnessing today is a tug ofwar between the reformist zeal and the status quoconformists, and who shall win the battle shallultimately be determined by the viewers.

References :

Chaudhury, S. (2012, August 4). Editor ’s cut. Retrieved from http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main53.asp?filename=Op040812Cocktail.asp

Kashyap, A. (2011). That girl in yellow boots, IndiePix Films.

Raghavendra, M.K. (2014, January 10).Changing values. Frontline, 30, (26). Retrieved from http://www.frontline.in/arts-and-culture/cinema/changing-values/article5486405.ece

Ramnath, N. (2013, August 10). Women film heroes. Mint Lounge. Retrieved from http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/XfWNIgDsODud5pkP0c7AyL/Lounge-Loves—Women-film-heroes.html

Women as an Object: By Will or Forced?Nishi Mishra

Senior Master StudentDepartment of Political Science, Faculty of Arts The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

nishi.27791@yahoo.in

Objectification is known to be those portrayals ofwomen in ways and contexts which suggest thatwomen are objects to be looked at, ogled, eventouched, or used. From ancient scriptures, to amodern day Delhi gang rape victim, there arecountless examples of how women arecommoditized. Perhaps to be purchased, perhapstaken – and once tired of, even discarded, often tobe replaced by a newer, younger edition; certainlynot treated as human beings with equal rights andneeds. This co modification is glorified inmainstream media whether it is in advertising,

calendars, pictures, movies, magazines and so on.Most of these portrayals are not those of womenscientists, writers and thinkers but those of youngstylish models pictured to sell products, attractattention and please the audience. They fail to portraya representative range of women’s real skills andoccupations, particularly in positions of authority oreven fail to reflect the increasing diversity andrichness of women’s lives, or their range ofcontributions and achievements. There is a tendencyfor women to be shown: as secondary to men, aspretty objects, or as appealing sex objects.

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Mainstream Cinema whether in Hindi or Regionallanguages is rich in producing films of various genresand is considered to be an important part of popularculture that represents India on the internationalfront. But still ‘Bollywood’ (Hindi Film Industry) isa male dominated industry. Nowadays women areportrayed as an object or a toy of the Hero’s anticsor to celebrate his success or dream. Whenever awoman is shown, she is shown satisfying men’sdesires and is portrayed as an instrument forproducing and rearing children. The Indian movieindustry is known for its glitterati and songs. ‘Itemsongs’ evoke varied emotions among film buffs andviewers. From ‘Choli ke peeche kya Hae’-(Khalnayak-1993) to latest ‘Chipka le saiyan Fevicolse’ (Dabbang 2- 2012), lyrics, these item numbersportray women as objects. Surely this is an exampleof creativity, but a song and dance sequence showinga woman being stalked and wooed by a bunch ofmen is ironical. Is this what we call popularentertainment? These songs with derogatoryportrayal of women and sexual overtones are ofteninserted in movie plots for no reason at all.

Shabana Azmi in one of her interviews observed “Thedirector showed me a script about a woman who wasan ugly duckling — she was dark-complexioned. Sheis forcibly married to this guy, but he leaves her for alight-skinned woman. Then the ugly duckling isadopted by the light-skinned woman. In the end, bothwomen fall at the feet of the man. The director wasgiving me the part of the ugly duckling. I said, ofcourse, I will not do the film.”

Women in Indian cinema are born with certainassumptions ranging from cult movies to celluloidblockbusters like Sholay (1975) to the popularFashion (2008) are rooted in gender bias. Womenare portrayed either as damsels in distress ordemented feminists or simple belly shaking glamdolls whose sole ambition is to attract the attentionof the male gender. In many Indian films it is acommon trend to insert ‘item numbers’ which bearno rational connection to the film in anyway, withan aim to woo the masses. Sometimes one song ends

up making a mark for the film, such as ‘Munni’ fromDabangg (2010), ‘Chikni Chameli’ of Agneepath(2012) or ‘Fevicol’ of Dabangg 2 (2012).

The question of objectifying the woman is not new.But is the objectification forced on her or does sheembody it herself? The question is who is to blame?However, the simple reason for deliberation on theissue is where do women want to see themselves insociety? Is it the society that decides her place ordoes the media merely reflect her place in thesociety? While observing the social scenario it needsto be ascertained whether this kind of objectivity isdesired by women to get attention and fame in societyor is it imposed on her by the society? It is oftenseen that women are misrepresented in media, butwho is to blame? Is it always the conservative societyor is it a ‘Free Woman’ who is allowing her to betreated as an object? At times the women’swillingness is also present. In the present Indiancultural scenario a woman would not usually performa ‘Munni Badnaam’ in front of her family sogallantly. Popular culture may not be entirely blamedfor the objectification of women as it may be theirchoice to some extent. This is though a verycontentious issue and calls for more debate. It seemsthat the objectification of women in most movieshas stemmed from society’s constant judgment ofwomen’s features, and not from their intelligenceand leadership.

Although media does not portray everything in animaginary and fanciful style, it takes inspiration fromsocietal and cultural environment. However, media’sonly end should not be entertainment. It must beginto realize its role that can propel social change. Whenit comes to women and her position in society, themedia should be little conscious about what it isdepicting as that might impact her socio-politicalposition in the long run. When it is by her will she isnot an object, but when it is forced upon her againsther will she is being exploited. If the will is not free,i.e. when women are consenting under pressure thenyes, they may be as powerful but are still remain anobject of patriarchal dominance.

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Violence against Women and the Role of Media Parvin Sultana

PhD Research ScholarCentre for Political StudiesSchool for Social Sciences

Jawarharlal Nehru University, New Delhiparvin.jnu@gmail.com

Press, the fourth estate of democracy, has to maintain a balance between good reporting and accountability.Journalists are expected to maintain a standard of neutrality, objectivity but not sans sensitivity. In an era ofpaid news, media often become agents of propaganda. With electronic media entering the scene, our livingrooms are flooded with 24 hours entertainment and news channels. Nothing escapes the gaze of media. Whileelectronic media is a manifestation of the fact that we are living in the information society, there are somepertinent concerns a viewer needs to raise.

With regard to news channels, the first concern must be whether print and electronic media is able to managethe required standards that are set for good journalism. How do media report on sensitive issues like sexualviolence against women, child sexual abuse? Over a period of time the competition of TRPs (TelevisionRating Points) paved the way for unnecessary sensitization of news. The line between real news and scripteddramatic serials has become blurred. People became mere stories. While print media tried to maintain the codeof conduct, electronic media often overstepped its domain.

A number of incidents made one rethink where to draw the line between journalistic ethics and sheersensationalism. While covering the Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case of 2008, news channels showed lewdanimated pictures of the 14 year old girl along with the other victim in indecent postures. This is not an isolatedincident. When a tragic incident of a video doing rounds in one of India’s premier educational institution tookplace, media continued to be insensitive. Along with the students involved, media continued harassing theother students by constantly intruding their academic space. Fingers were also pointed at students comingfrom particular states of the country. The same media was lukewarm towards the institution’s struggle forgetting their democratic elections back.

Another shocking incident was a young girl being molested on a busy highway in Guwahati by a number ofmiscreants in June, 2012 and this was being shown through live telecast by a local private news channel. Whilea young girl was being pushed and pulled in every direction, the news channel was basking in the glory of

References :

Edward A. G. (1993, Jan 17). In ‘Bollywood,’ women are wronged or revered. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/17/movies/film-in-bollywood-women-are- wronged-or-revered.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

Juluri, V. (2013, March 19). Women in Indian Cinema. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vamsee-juluri/a-woman-in-indian-cinema_b_2905185.html

Nair, G. (2013, Feb 21). Objectification of Women. Retrieved from http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=14023

Shendurnikar - Tere, N. (2012, June). Gender Reflections in Mainstream Hindi Cinema. Retrieved from http://www.caluniv.ac.in/Global%20mdia%20journal/Students’%20Research/SR4%20NIDHI.pdf

Uberoi, P. (2006). Freedom and Destiny: Gender, Family and Popular Culture In India: Feminine Identity and National Ethos inCalendar Art. (pg. 60-61). New York, NY: Oxford.

Women in Hundred Years of Indian Cinema. (n.d). Retrieved from http://mediaindiagroup.wordpress.com/tag/women-in-100-years-of-indian-cinema/

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being able to provide a live telecast. What happened to the journalist’s duty as a concerned human being tointervene and immediately inform the police? Are we pushing notions of a neutral, objective bystander too far?Live telecast of molestation seems like a precedent to live telecast of more serious crimes. Similar behaviourwas witnessed during the December, 2012 gang rape case in Delhi where news channels as well as somenewspapers were more obsessed with the identity of the victim and her relationship with her male companionas opposed to the crime.

In another recent incident, when a girl was attacked by her class mate in a premiere university, while the entirecountry expressed shock and concern, a leading Hindi newspaper Dainik Bhaskar was more caught up indiscovering the nuances of the relationship between the girl and the boy. Instead of initiating a debate on theneed to rethink romantic relationships, the paper indulged in character assassination of the girl who wasfighting for her life. Compelled by the demand of market, this newspaper seemed untouched by the ongoingdebates of how movies like “Ranjhnaa” (2013) tend to justify the aggressive behaviour of a jilted lover.

Another shameful incident is the kind of reporting that is doing rounds on the recent case of gang rape inMumbai. In case of criminal assault on women, media is expected to maintain a level of secrecy. This is to savesurvivors of such assault from further harassment. In this case while some newspapers initially gave out detailsregarding the woman’s workplace, they immediately removed it. But a leading daily like The Times of Indiasent its reporter to the building where the woman lived to give an exclusive report on the reaction of herneighbours and friends. It also gave details about the way this heinous crime was perpetrated. Other paperslike the Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Hindu only provided details given by the hospital. This is agross violation of journalistic ethics, and a threat to women who face such crimes.

This recurring insensitivity on the part of media raises some pertinent concerns about whether news media isalso commercialised and gendered. Even news items are dovetailed for a dominantly male audience. Newsbusiness is rapidly driven by hard news. Entrusted with the crucial responsibility of keeping people wellinformed on the kind of atrocities happening around the country, journalists of both print and electronic medianeed to be extra careful.

Any talk of the role of media cannot bypass a discussion on movies and TV serials which are an importantsource of entertainment. With increasing number of cases of violence against women, social scientists, andpsychologists tried to understand if there is any relationship between representation of women in media andincreasing violence on them. While there may not be any direct causal relationship, people who are exposed toa particular degrading portrayal of women are found to be more acceptable of the violence meted out to them.

Most mainstream movies and TV serials portray women in two ways - as meek, docile and vulnerable, inconstant need of protection of a male or as cunning and calculative. Family and politics at home seem to becentral to these women’s existence. Very few TV serials or movies take up issues that a working woman facesin her life. How we see a woman and her relationships on the TV screen is crucial in Indian society. In aconservative social set up, families do not give the space to engage on issues of relationship. If movies like“Ranjhnaa” (2013) romanticize stalking to such an extent that male aggression comes to be justified as truelove, women are denied agency even in such an intimate relationship. It is only when popular culture questionsthese deep rooted biases; women will be able to deal with society on an equal footing as men.

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Gender Disguise in the Indian Entertainment Industry: Cross-DressingPooja Gala

Research InternDepartment of Psychology

Monk PrayogshalaMumbai

pg@monkprayoshala.in

Sandra Bem had emphasized that the only factor thatmakes someone or something male or female is theirgenitalia. Thus, a toy truck, a task, profession or anoutfit cannot be either “male” or “female”. Earlier,when women were not allowed to act, men wouldcross-dress as women. In the first motion picture,Raja Harishchandra, (1913) the female lead ofTaramati, Harischandra’s wife, was played by maleactors Anna Salunkhe and Phalke’s sonBhalachandra. Since acting was considered to betaboo, men dressed up as women. However, therationale underlying this was merely convenienceand to have female representatives as counterparts.

Cross-dressing in the real world is an attribute ofthe transgender community, who has emerged toclaim themselves as independent identities not boundby rigid gender stereotypes. Cross-dressing in Indiansociety is an attempt by men to wear clothes andother accessories commonly associated with womenin Indian culture. The purposes for which it has beenused in media involve disguise, comfort, and mostimportantly to generate humour. The idea of cross-dressing has by and large been ridiculed in theentertainment world and hardly any attempts havebeen made to project cross-dressers as entitiesindependent from cultural stereotypes. It may be easyto accept a woman dressing as a man with attire suchas a trouser and a shirt. In fact, this is the dress codeof many women working in the corporate sector. Awoman in stereotypical male clothing is hardly everfound out to be unique or striking. A similar situationwhen emulated by a man perhaps becomes the mostsalient aspect of his appearance and createsperceptions that are difficult to rule out. It is ironicalto see how women in the real world have restrictionsimposed on them in various arenas. But in the reel

world, restrictions imposed on a man’s dressing arevery apparent. Thus, with a shift from real to reel,there are changes in gender-reversal in the area of“unacceptability”. Cross-dressing in the Indianentertainment industry has been prevalent since morethan ten decades and has been a subject of massappeal. Since a man dressing as a woman isconsidered to be so unusual, in the contemporaryentertainment world it has been highly celebrated.

The role of Kamal Hassan as Chachi, in Chachi 420,(1997) used stereotypes to make an impact, becauseas a male, Hassan could have never achieved whathe wanted; that is, his wife and daughter. Chachi’spersuasion for Amrish Puri’s character worksmarvelously well but Hassan’s persuasion wouldhave drastically failed. Being disguised as a womanhas repeatedly been used to evoke sympathy fromother men. Women have been viewed as soft targetswho use their so-called gentle prowess to have theirway with the dominating male community. In somemovies (like Ritesh Deshmukh’s character in ApnaSapna Money Money (2006) males disguised asfemales are used merely as distractions to hinderother male characters from achieving their goals.They portray features that could be associated withfemme fatale – a mysterious and seductive womanwhose charms entrap her lovers in bonds ofirresistible desire, often leading them intocompromising, dangerous, and deadly situations.This portrayal of a woman as a distraction iscontradictory to the oft-quoted saying that “Behindevery successful man is a woman.” Thus, whatemerges is perhaps the biggest drawback of cross-dressing – sexualization of women. Importantly,when a man cross-dresses, it suddenly makes himvery desirable to other men in the drama. This

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probably establishes the idea that beauty isessentially the prerogative of women and when cross-dressed, even ugly men become highly coveted. Thishas been very well exemplified in the movie AuntyNo. 1 (1998) where Govinda as a woman, wins theaffection of three men ready to woo “her” in everyway possible.

The role of Dadi in Comedy Nights with Kapilexemplifies the rather unusual character of analcoholic and seductive Indian Dadi who hasextraordinary power and strength, showcasing hermasculine prowess and desperate to woo the malecelebrities participating in the show. Since it is a male(disguised as a woman) seducing men, the effect ofseduction is toned down to the element of humour.At the same time, we could say that the character ofDadi is both progressive and regressive. Her humourmakes the notion of an alcoholic woman acceptable.She is able to break the shackles and stereotypesassociated with a woman only because she,biologically, is not a woman. Cross-dressing hasoften been used an escape mechanism tosurreptitiously enter into male-prohibited areas. Theydisguise primarily to achieve what they could nothave achieved as a male. In a television series calledMrs. Pammi Pyareyal, the protagonist cross-dressersto get accommodation into a home where only

couples are allowed to live. She is shown as abeautiful lady who is very intelligent and can solvealmost any home-making problem. However, theintelligence is that of a man who can skillfullycombat relational issues but is only acknowledgedin form of a housewife who is stereotypically veryhigh on interpersonal intelligence. In most comedyshows, when male characters dress up as women,they present themselves with some dramaticdifferences, such as unwaxed legs, very wide hipsor large busts. Such appearances only reinforce thestereotypical notions of beauty in our culture. Also,the attire of a woman in revealing clothes is usedmainly to titillate the opposite sex. Disguised humoris used as an instrument to assert the notion of beautywithout brains. It is really fascinating to see howcross-dressing has evolved in the Indianentertainment industry. What started off merely asan availability phenomenon, has gradually taken theform of sexualization of women. Femininity hasbecome associated with a “safety escape” fromdanger as people are generally less suspicious ofwomen committing higher order crimes; cross-dressing is more of a safety valve. Thus femininityis mainly “performed” under many such stereotypicalfacades reinforcing negative stereotypes ofwomanhood in Indian culture.

References :

Dasgupta, S. D. (1996). Feminist consciousness in woman-centered Hindi films. The Journal of Popular Culture, 30(1), 173 – 189.

Datta, S. (2000). Globalisation and representations of women in Indian cinema. Social Scientist, 28(3), 71 – 82.

Mcmillin, D. C. (2002). Ideologies of gender on television in India. Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 9(1), 1 – 26.

Moorti, S. (2013). Shifting contours of Indian womanhood in popular Hindi cinema. In International Encyclopedia of Media Studies.

Rao, L. (1989). Woman in Indian films — A paradigm of continuity and change. Media, Culture & Society, 11, 443 – 458.

Shendurnikar - Tere, N. (2012). Gender reflections in mainstream Hindi cinema. Students’ Research Global Media Journal,3(1), 1–9.

It has been proposed that within every man there is a woman and within every woman there is a man. Sowhere is the man and where is the woman?

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Moving Towards new AGENDA for GENDER: Spaces for Discourse Rahul V. Mane

Research AssociateCommunications Division

Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA), Ahmedabadrahulmane@micamail.com

In a recent premiere concluded at MICA, Ahmedabadof yet to be released ‘Lakshmi’—a brave panoramic-realistic production by Nagesh Kukunoor – theaudience witnessed engaging discussions about thespectrum of widespread complexity and gravity ofwomen trafficking, sex-trade and prostitution. Thisinteraction related to sexuality, gender and thuscontemporary debates about equality-equity provideda leap of imagination to visualize how gender issuesare being debated in public life in India. During theinteractions, one of the participants asked why Nageshdid not address the issues of homosexuality, sexualatrocities against males, transgenders constitutinglarger community of LGBTQs. In his reply, the directorsaid that our evolving understanding has uncoveredhow deeply sensitive all these issues are from thepurview of human rights. At the same time we shouldrealize the kind of impact crude exploitation of women,trafficking and sex trade has on gender issues. I usethis frame of reference sketched by Kukunoor to openup space for the argument which I wish to develop inthis article.

The year 2013 has been historic in a sense, it createdhuge public/civil movements aimed at creating not onlyawareness about gender issues but also forcingexecutive, legislature and judiciary to move towardshumanitarian legislations, enforcement through newmechanisms/agencies and also through requiredamendments in legal structures. It started with anuproar on the Delhi gang rape, what came to be knownas the ‘Nirbhaya’ case. Thereafter, many such caseshappened and were reported. However, the kind ofoutrage and public mobilization the Nirbhaya casewitnessed was unparalled in Indian history. This singleincident threw wide open uncontested terrain of legal/moral definitions related to many age-old conceptsstarting from juvenile age, age of consensual sex,criminal investigation related to crimes against

women, two finger tests, sexual harassment atworkplace, sexual harassment in live inrelationships, harassment in marital relationship,concept of sexual advancement.

Considering the obscurantist nature of patriarchaland conservative society in which we live, wherepolitical parties, established institutions of family,religion and law are busy forwarding their ownagendas and competing interests, Kukunoor‘s non-obvious answer had many layers to it. On one part,he was underscoring the vastness of the problemportrayed in ‘Lakshmi’ and on the other hand hewas expressing his sensitivity with regard to genderissues. This kind of ‘brave balancing act’ is a partof new India that is unabashedly open, unafraid ofany intellectual venture about ‘divergences fromroutine, asserting that being different is not weird’.Without going into the nature of radical andconservative arguments expressed recently aboutgender debates and its possible crystallization intopolitical correctness vs. legal-ethical legitimacy,one can observe the precise nuances through which‘gender debate’ in India is emerging. In the contextof this cautionary realization and amidst thecompetitive world where every activist is jumpingto speak for marginalized groups, it is easy to getcarried away and thus shout for everyone‘sneglected rights. Rhetoric about gender issues ischanging at a faster pace. Indian society has notgiven a thought to creating informal forums andsocial infrastructure anticipating the huge deficitin human rights of the marginalized, in this casegender marginalized groups.

As a society of family values, of ‘traditional’culture, strong religious affiliations decorated bycustomary and newly invented rituals penetratedby market products; we need to ponder how weshould educate, create consciousness and create a

Woman is not born, she is made! – Simone de BeauvoirBy plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower. – Tagore

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new language to understand the LGBTQ`s concerns.Sudden media out surge to herald LGBT rights afterDelhi High Court`s verdict (which decriminalizedhomo-sexuality) and equally emotional outrageousanger aroused after Supreme Court`s decision whichoverturned the lower court`s decision arecontributing in creation of simplistic, binaryinterpretations about LGBTQ issues. Westerndiscourses around freedom and equality are drivenin the context of historical evolution of the notionof individuality which was shaped by industriali-zation, modernization, mechanization, capitalism anddemocratization. In India, beyond the fact thatwomen were given voting rights immediately afterindependence, there were very few efforts on the partof the state and society to award rights in dignifiedway to women specifically and to marginalizedgenders at large.

Historical reasons exist due to which we can realizethat the Indian population is always unevenly dividedinto polarised protestors and supporters of theprogressive or regressive legislations/policies. Thereasons for thus can be traced as - huge lacuna ofinformation, ‘convenient unwillingness’ (rationalignorance) to challenge non-consciousness and avacuum of social infrastructure to engage with theplight of many marginalized groups, diffusion ofknowledge and circulation of meanings in our societyhas always been driven by feudal forces and hugedisparity of class, language, regionalism on one sideand identity, association and representation on theother.

Media‘s stance about issues of gender equalityreflected in the legacy of public discourse inheritedby instrumental cases is largely shaped by erstwhileinfluential groups in Indian society and politics atlarge. Largely, the Indian media did not take aradically libertarian stance regarding launching aninitial step about discovering layers of attributesabout gender sensitivities. But times are changing.It is only after the media landscape opened up toglobal influence through rapid convergence intechnology, finance and production infrastructure,competition within rival satellite channels,intensification of civil society movements and itslinkage to social networking sites, these anguishedresponses were taken seriously – mostly because itcreated the possibility of questioning and challengingthe credibility of existing institutions. Media debatessurrounded focused on how law, institutions,

procedures, mechanisms should be improved upon.Very few focused upon how interventions in cultural-social space can create possibilities to alter gendersensitivity. It will be worthwhile to look into thedistribution, thematic diffusion and discourses spreadover the media landscape in India in recent years.That is a further matter of extending the normativearguments in this article towards analyzing empiricalcases. This claim needs to be substantiated by contentanalysis and discourse analysis in media. Myreflections are based on exposure to recent mediacontent, in text, audio, video, digital platforms.

To complete that successfully, one needs to verify thedeeply consolidated and diversely-thinly spreadnuances of gender debates and that can happen onlywhen one goes to discuss individual stories whichultimately contribute to political initiatives aboutLarger Affirmative Action Agenda for Gender(LAAAG). This is becoming complex because modesof protests, questioning and dissent are changing.Questions like the following should be raised:

• Is the changing nature, form and content ofmovements that gives expression to discontentbeing reflected in media discourses? What areits evidences?

• What are the patterns of these discourses?(Outrage, political protests, satire and laughter,fight for rights, community mobilization,advocacy, civilian unrest, and media induced orspin doctored shows)

The basic premise of this article is that Genders’ arenot merely different sexualities associated with theirpeculiar vulnerabilities isolated from communitiessurrounding them. They are structurally situated andshaped by their geographies, their degree of sub-alternalities (originally explained by Gayatri Spivac),their socio-cultural conditions, individual stories,personal narratives, community customs andnational-regional political situations; Gender debatesin India fundamentally need to be framed in thecontexts discussed above. Unfortunately, mediadebates, do not always help arrive to nuances of life-histories and genealogies of problems related todifferent genders but they certainly expose us to moreand more ‘realities’ which we were previouslyignorant of; enough to compel our minds and socio-political-religious institutions to take a relook atwhole concept of gender.

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BOOK REVIEW

Media, Gender and Popular Culture in India: Tracking Change and Continuity

References :

Jain, D. & Kimberely, R. Comparison of the Legal Rights of Gender Non-Conforming Persons in South Asia. Economic and PoliticalWeekly, XLVIII, (52). Retrieved from http://www.epw.in/commentary/comparison-legal-rights-gender-non-conforming-persons-south-asia.html

Interrogating Women‘s Leadership and Empowerment. India International Quarterly, 39, Winter 2012-Spring 2013, (3&4). Retrievedfrom http://www.iicdelhi.nic.in/Publication%20-%20IIC%20Quaterly/Winter%202012-Spring%202013.pdf

Kukunoor, N. (2014) Lakshmi (Film)

Supreme Court Judgment. Retrieved from http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgs1.aspx?filename=41070

Media has always played a vital and dynamic role inIndian society from the colonial to the post-liberalized and modernized era. Newspapers whichwere the most significant medium during ourindependence struggle encouraged values such asequality, justice and political consciousness amongpeople. The call for fair, just and responsiblejournalism witnessed an era of sensibility in themedia industry. Journalism during the independencestruggle was driven by a cause, unlike the factorsthat drive it today – commercial and businessmotives. Gradually new inventions and technologiesstarted proliferating with modern techniques.However, at the same time Indian culture alsostrengthened and became a more vibrant anddynamic entity. The dichotomy between culture andmodern technologies left the Indian media in adilemma - a difficult one to cope with.

Media, Gender and Popular Culture in Indiaelucidates the struggle faced by Indian mediabetween modernization and traditional society in adiverse and heterogeneous social context. The bookcenters on the multi-dimensional aspects of socio-cultural diversities prevailing in the Indian societywith distorted images of women. With the economicreforms in 1990’s, the increase in competition ledmedia to change its facets in society and adopt amore modern and commercial approach. The

‘women element’ hasalways beenmarginalized in themedia firstly due to thepatriarchal systemprevalent in society andsecondly due to themedia’s subtleadherence to this system.With the advent ofmodernization andglobalization newspapers, films, televisions adopteda contemporary approach with women playing animportant role. Though, the media failed to take intoconsideration the ‘other sex’ into positive framekeeping in mind the traditional orientation of Indiansociety, commercialization, sensationalism and triviacontributed to further downfall in women’s portrayal.What sells has to be covered as media is after all abusiness and it too keeps profit margins. One of theprominent arguments in the book is “In the changingworld and India people no longer preoccupythemselves with the question ‘why should media dobusiness?’ rather the question that occupies theirmind is “to what extent the media should indulgeinto business?”(pp-184).The book excellently encapsulates the portrayal ofwomen in films, advertisements and print by

Media, Gender, and Popular Culture In India: Tracking Change And ContinuitySanjukta Dasgupta, Dipankar Sinha and Sudeshna Chakravarti.Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2012, pp. 232, Rs - 565/-

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highlighting various relevant examples. The Indianfilm industry witnessed the era of Helen as well asMallika Sherawat and several controversies emergedover it. The book depicts such a dilemmatic era ofIndia where popular culture drew large audiencesand technology was continuously advancing. In away one can say that even though socio-economicreforms took place more than two decades ago,Indian culture and its followers struggled hard toadapt to changing times. Shifting the attention tomarket economy, advertisements have had the twoextremes in representing women. First is in the‘Bhartiya Naari avtaar’ where her responsibilitiesare more of a house-wife and mother taking care ofher family or she is shown worried and concernedabout her skin problems as she has to go and meetthe love of her life - again depicting that onlybeautiful girls can get love in life. Secondly, she isdepicted in a seductive manner appealing for the saleof the product, which is currently a trend in perfumes’and body sprays’ advertisements. The stereotypicalavtaars of women, in sarees or in western eroticdresses, have always fascinated and attracted manyconsumers. The authors critically comment about theacceptance of such cultures in Indian society and inall forms of media.

Television soap operas too corroborate a similarargument of women being presented in not-so-serious kinds of roles. The authors observe that “Insuch a discourse, what emerges very interestingly isthat techno viability erases boundaries in terms ofgeography or target consumers, but the mediaimages that are constructed seem to have a sharedagenda in consolidating traditional paradigms andde-recognizing the changes that are taking place inthe contemporary scenario. That is, life stylechanges, increase in professional women,multitasking women, shared household work, women

in higher salary structures than their male partnersor husbands are elided or seem to govern asystematic low representation, that is programmedto seem as if these roles are anti-normative and notserious” (pp-110). Many Women based magazinesreport issues concerning upper-middle class womenand also provide a platform for women to discussthe very intricate details of their lives. However, thesemagazines and other media forums are niche and donot cater to women who are economically deprivedand live in a setting different than the urban andmiddle class.

The book brings forth realities from the world ofmedia and gender. However, the focus is a bitlopsided towards historical aspects on the theme.This takes readers back to history which mightprevent them from coming back and connect to thecentral point in the work. Some examples are westernwhich are relevant and worthy of mention but sincethe book is in the Indian context, it would have beenbetter if more Indian illustrations were highlighted.

Media has a bigger part to play in society where itcan educate and sensitize people with regard topolitico-socio-cultural aspects. Rightly said by theauthors in this book that “Indian Media is in thetransition of change”; the transition where media isstill in dilemma whether to continue withmodernization, which is need of the hour in thepresent globalized world or to remain tradition-centric.

This book is a substantive work on how mediaportrays women in a culture-laden Indian society.Many interesting examples have been highlighteddepicting the other side of the picture. A must readfor followers of media and cultural studies,researchers and students to recognize the realscenario of ‘India Then’ and ‘India Now’.

Contents :

1. Introduction: Media and Mediations – Representing Change and Continuity in Indian Popular Culture and Gender2. Indian Media in Transition: Recent Past and Present3. Filming Change, Securing Tradition: A Hobson’s Choice or a Dynamic Duality4. Television Images: Images and Imaginary5. Advertising: Encoding Seduction6. Print Media and Popular Culture: Agents with a Difference7. Conclusion: Media Responsibility – The Winding Road Ahead

Reviewed By Nalanda Tambe

tambenalanda@gmail.com

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Representation of Women in News Media: A Survey byMedia Studies Group

Media Studies GroupNew Delhi

msgroup.india@gmail.com

“In such a rapidly changing environment, womenin media have a large responsibility in not onlychanging attitude towards women but also shapingpublic opinion. With women holding responsibleposition in newspapers or electronic media, theircompetency should extend to a wider area and arange of issues. More importantly, a womanjournalist is expected to show more sensitivity toissues relating to women and to more meaningfulinsights and perspectives.1 - Justice G. N. Ray

Whenever Women Reservation Bill is discussed inthe Parliament there is a high decibel debate in mediaon empowerment and representation of women inhigh institutions but an inside look shows thatsituation of women in the Indian media is far worsethan the institutions it dissects.

The nationwide massive study undertaken onrepresentation of women in media by Media StudiesGroup reveals shocking outcomes of genderdisproportion. The study reveals a tokenrepresentation of female journalists as low as 2.7percent. There are six states and two union territorieswhich have zero percent of women mediaprofessionals at the district level while AndhraPradesh tops the list with 107 women journalists atdistricts.

This survey is to estimate the participation of femalejournalists at district level in Indian Media inreference to the overall expansion of media in India.

The Methodology: Media Studies Group used theRight to Information Act (2005) for the source ofthe information. The exercise was launched to collectdata on journalists, reporters and editors working atthe district level from more than 600 districts ofIndia. It took more than a year in making appealsand collecting information from those districts where

Media Studies Group was not given information byCentral public information officers.

The study is based on data and information receivedfrom 255 districts of 28 states. Total number ofdistricts surveyed represents for 40% of the totaldistricts. Media Studies Group received data andinformation on 14,278 accredited journalists,reporters and editors from 255 districts in referenceto social background of media persons working atthe district level. This is the first in a series of surveysby Media Studies Group about the social backgroundof media persons working at an all India level.

The Growth Trajectory: Growth figures andestimates show that media has expanded rapidly atdistrict level as well. Many of the popular dailiesclaim that their editions have reached in three digits.2

Figures show that Indian media and entertainmentindustry recorded a growth rate of 12% in 2011 andthe total size of the industry grew up to Rs.72,800crore. In terms of revenue generation industry isestimated to achieve a growth rate of 13 per cent in2012. Reports suggest the rate of expansion willaccelerate till 2016 and following this trajectory bywhich that time the industry will be worth Rs1,45,700 crore. This translates into a compoundedaverage growth rate (CAGR) of 15 per cent over thenext five years. Television continues to be thedominant medium in terms of getting the slice ofoverall cake while print media which is on the slidein growth rate will still continue to be the secondlargest medium in the Indian M&E industry. Radiois expected to grow at 21 per cent yearly.3 Accordingto Prof. Robin Jeffrey, a leading authority on mediaaffairs there are good prospects of growth of mediaand especially print media would grow at a goodrate in the next 15 years.4

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Gross Gender Imbalance: Outcomes of the surveyprovides important inputs particularly in referenceto social structure of the Indian society and media.The study reveals the fact that there are on average2.7% of female journalists working at district level.The number of total accredited female journalists atdistrict level is 329 against the male counterparts of11,850.

As per the findings of the survey it is found that atleast 6 states and 2 union territories have zero percent(0%) of female journalists at the district level. Thesestates include Assam, Jharkhand, Nagaland,Arunachal Pradesh, Orissa and Manipur and unionterritories of Pondicherry and Daman & Diu.Information received from these states reveals thatthere is not a single female journalist working atdistrict level. The information regarding thecorrespondents, reporters and editors is based uponthe information received from 4 districts of Manipur,6 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, 2 districts of Orissa,10 districts of Assam, 3 districts of Nagaland, 6districts of Jharkhand and one each from Pondicherryand Daman & Diu.

The states having maximum percentage of accreditedfemale journalists are Sikkim and Meghalaya fromnorth eastern region of India. Percentage of femalejournalists working at district level in these states is16.66 for each. The figures are based on theinformation received from 3 districts of Meghalayaand 2 districts of Sikkim. Each of the states has total6 journalists with just one female.

Participation of female reporters, correspondents andeditors working at district level in Bihar is 9.56%while in Chhattisgarh it is 9.38%. We received dataof 22 districts of Bihar and 8 districts of Chhattisgarh.Total number of accredited journalists in Bihar is251 out of which 24 are female whereas Chhattisgarhhas 32 journalists out of which only three are female.

Information from 16 districts is excluded from thissurvey because the data fetched from these districtsdid not demarcate male and female journalistsseparately. Therefore it was difficult to figure out

exact number of female and male journalists.Because of absence of complete data 2099correspondents, reporters and editors were excludedfrom this study.

Since the study was targeted at the district levelaccredited journalists at the state capitals were alsonot counted. Similarly journalists who are accreditedwith central government and working at NationalCapital Territory of Delhi were also excluded fromthe survey. However, data from state capitals onaccredited journalists at district level is included inthe study. The total number of accredited journalistsin Andhra Pradesh is 9392 but information aboutsocial background of these journalists is availableonly of 7761 out of which 107 are female journalists.Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh holds 967accredited journalists out of which only one isfemale. There are 1146 accredited correspondents,reporters and editors in Chittoor district of AndhraPradesh in which 29 are female journalists. Thereare 4 female journalists in Kaddappa district out oftotal accredited journalists of 1041. In Karim Nagardistrict there are 8 female journalists from a totalnumber of 1035. With these figures Andhra Pradeshaccounts for the maximum number of total accreditedjournalists.

The survey also exposes the fact that the nationallevel media houses too have not performedsatisfactorily and the number of accredited femalejournalists working with these organizations is verylow compared to accredited female journalists inrelatively smaller media houses. Within the ambitof the survey it was observed that most of the popularand mainstream media houses have token presenceof female journalists accredited with them at districtlevel. Some media houses account only for one ortwo female accredited journalist at district level. AllIndia Radio performs a uniform distribution as it hassix female journalists at grass root level. Majorityof the female accreditation was found to be fromregional and local newspapers. Survey figuresshowed that there were only two female journalistsaccredited as freelancers.

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Print & Electronic Media Male Female (Hindi & English) Journalists Journalists

Print media (Hindi) 86% 14%

Print media (English) 84% 16%

Electronic media (Hindi) 89% 11%

Electronic media (English) 68% 32%

Total 83% 17%

References :

Ray, G.N. (2008, November, 16) Inaugural Address. National Press Day. Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Garg, S. Media manthan Retreived from Program on Rajya Sabha TV.

KPMG and FICCI. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/media-entertainment-growth-predicted-at-13/467817/

Jeffry, R. (2012, April, 1) Rajendra Mathur memorial lecture. Retrieved from http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/media/entertainment-/media/Indian-print-media-will-flourish-for-next-15-years-Robin-Jeffrey/articleshow/12491238.cms

Contributed by:

AvaneeshRishi Kumar Singh

Purnima OraonVijai Pratap

Arun OraonVarun GondAzad Ansari

A Statistical Representation of Gender in Mainstream Media

To Conclude :

32

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siddharth.maniyar@gmail.com

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Archives: Gender and Media Nidhi Shendunikar Tere

India Together - India Together (IT)-www.indiatogether.org/women/media/media.htm is an electronic publication devotedto coverage of public affairs, policy, anddevelopment in India, providing news inproportion to the country’s broad developmentexperiences. IT was founded in 1998 bySubramaniam Vincent and Ashwin Mahesh.IT provides in-depth information & news onthe issues that matter covering 15 major topicsand over 15 states. The magazine also helpsleaders, experts, practitioners, scholars andartists take their ideas, insights and concernsexpeditiously to an interested national andglobal audience. It has a dedicated section on“Women and Media” which has contributionsfrom eminent journalists and mediaprofessionals on various issues related to thesubject.

The Hoot – www.thehoot.org –This portal isthe outcome of the concern felt by a group ofpracticing journalists at some recent trends inIndian journalism. It is an attempt to revive aconcern for media ethics, restore focus ondevelopment in the subcontinent, and preservepress freedom. It attempts to hold a mirror tothe way journalists practice their craft. It isdevoted to examining issues of accuracy,fairness, right to information, censorship, andresponsibility of the media. It is aimed atjournalists, users of the media including lay

readers and viewers, and students and teachersof journalism and communications. With adedicated section on ‘Media and Gender’, itattempts to bring together several relevantlinks and readings and provide tools forcommunities and individuals to interact withthe media.

Beti Bachao Campaign – Print mediacampaign run by The Times of India to spreadawareness about gender related issues. Stories/news related to the campaign can be found athttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Laadli - www.laadli.org - This is a girl childcampaign - Population First’s campaignagainst sex selection and falling sex ratio. Italso gives awards for gender sensitivereportage – known as the Laadli Media Awardsapart from conducting gender sensitivityworkshops for the media.

Network of Women in Media, India(NWMI) - www.nwmindia.org - The Networkof Women in Media, India (NWMI) is aprofessional association linking womenjournalists and other women working in or onthe media across the country. It came intobeing at a national meeting in Delhi in January2002 after a process of network-buildingwhich began in 2000. The NWMI website,launched in February 2003, has evolved into

This section of the newsletter enlists a few popular networks and websites on the theme ‘Gender and Media’.Readers/students/researchers can refer to these networks for additional information on the theme. These arealternative media sites operational in India/South Asia which work to spread awareness and information aboutgender related issues and the media. The objectives of all these networks/websites are different as they continueto evolve over time. Since, the gender element is crucial for media practitioners, researchers, scholars andeducators to account for – this list will serve a comprehensive purpose.

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an interesting, useful and effective forum thatseeks to promote both professional andpersonal enrichment. It has receivedenthusiastic response from women journalistsand media-watchers, including many fromoutside the country. Several other media andwomen’s websites have provided links to theNWMI site, and postings on the site have beenfurther disseminated through other media. Thesite has also enabled the dissemination of newsconcerning women journalists, includingawards received, honors bestowed, and bookslaunched, and so on, adding to the sense ofbelonging and community.

The Global Media Monitoring Project(GMMP) www.whomakesthenews.org/ - TheGlobal Media Monitoring Project (GMMP)maps the representation of women and menin news media worldwide. GMMP researchhas been carried out in 5 year cycles since1995 and relies on the voluntary efforts ofhundreds of individuals and organizations,including grassroots communication groups,media professionals and universityresearchers. The Global Media MonitoringProject is the largest and longest longitudinalstudy on the gender in the world’s media. Itis also the largest advocacy initiative in theworld on changing the representation ofwomen in the media. It is unique in involving

participants ranging from grassrootscommunity organizations to universitystudents and researchers to mediapractitioners, all of whom participate on avoluntary basis.

South Asian Women in Media (SAWM)www.southasianmedia.net - The aim is tohighlight women’s issues and perspectives andto provide a platform for women mediapersons to identify and find solutions to theirproblems. SAWM works to realize the rightsof women media persons. It aims to help mediawomen network amongst themselves and withother women’s rights organizations in orderto assert their rights and defend their interests.It also plays an active role in networking,campaigning, advocating and lobbying forawareness and resolution of issues faced bywomen media persons. As the first all-womenmedia association in the region, SAWM workstowards the increased participation of womenin the media, equal wages and a gendersensitive environment. It now has fullyfunctioning national chapters in the eightcountries of the region – Afghanistan,Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,Pakistan and Sri Lanka and is emerging as thelargest network of women media persons inthe sub-continent.

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Agrawal, S. (2011). Violence against women in India. Jaipur: Aadi.

Basu, S. (2012, September 22). Feminist film review: ‘Fashion’ and other Bhandarkar flicks. Retrieved fromhttp://sanjukta.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/feminist-film-review-fashion-corporate-madhur-bhandarkar-films/

Bhalla, A. (2013, January 23). Justice Verma Committee report on reform in anti-rape laws. Retrieved fromhttp://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhi-gangrape-justice-verma-committee-report-anti-rape-law/1/247249.html

Chakravarty, J. (2002). Women in journalism: Media for women’s development (Vol. 2). New Delhi: Sarup.

Chowdhury, S. (2013). Implementing gender curriculum programs to end gang rapes and sexual violence.Gender Violence, 1-20.

Das, R. (2012). Representation of violence against women in Indian print media: A comparative analysis.Global Media Journal, 3(1), 1-24.

Dasgupta, S., Sinha, D., & Chakravarti, S. (2012). Media, gender, and popular culture in India: Trackingchange and continuity. New Delhi: Sage.

Irani, O. (2010, October 8). Interview with Shoma Chatterji – Role of women in Indian cinema. Retrievedfrom http://oorvazifilmeducation.wordpress.com/2010/10/08/interview-with-shoma-chatterji-role-of-women-in-indian-cinema/

Jain, J., & Rai, S. (2009). Films and feminism: Essays in Indian cinema. Jaipur: Rawat.

Jha, R. (1992). Women and the Indian print media: Portrayal and performance New Delhi: Chanakya.

Joseph, A., & Sharma, K. (1994). Whose news? The media and women’s issues. New Delhi: Sage.

Kapoor, R. (2011). Women and media. New Delhi: Murarilal.

Kaul, S., & Sahni, S. (2010). Portrayal of women in television (TV) serials. Studies on Home and CommunityScience, 4(1), 15-20.

Kaur, P. (2011). Crime, gender and society in India. Higher Education of Social Science, 1(1), 24-32.

Majumder, A. (2013, January 02). Rape, reportage, and the TOI. Retrieved from http://thehoot.org/web/RapereportageandtheTOI/6523-1-1-25-true.html

Oberoi, P. (2009). Freedom and destiny: Gender, family and popular culture in India. New Delhi: Oxford.

Relevant Readings: Gender and Media

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Compiled by:Nalanda Tambe

Nidhi Shendunikar Tere

Oktofani, E. (2011, May 24). Most media reports on women’s issues focus on violence: Rights Group. Retrievedfrom Jakarta Globe.

Phadke, S., Ranade, S., & Khan, S. (2013, September 19). Invisible women. Index on Censorship, 42(3), 40-45.

Prakash T. (2011). Reporting and crime: Media politics of criminal justice. New Delhi: Navyug.

Prasad, K. (2005). Women and media: Challenging feminist discourse. New Delhi: The Women Press.

Roy, S. (2013, September 03). Reveal yourself: Expose rape accused, not their victims. Retrieved from http://www.firstpost.com/living/reveal-yourself-expose-rape-accused-not-their-victims-1081569.html

Sardana, C. (2013). A call for more responsible reporting. Vidura, 5(2), 17.

Seshadri, A. (2010, August 01). Gender, all the way. Retrieved from http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/gender-all-the-way/article541899.ece

Seshu, G. (2013, August 27). Can we stop feeding the beast? Retrieved from http://thehoot.org/web/Canwestopfeedingthebeast/6997-1-1-25-true.html

Sharma, K. (2013, August 26). TOI’s foot-in-mouth rape coverage. Retrieved from http://www.thehoot.org/web/TOI-s-foot-in-mouth-rape-coverage/6990-1-1-25-true.html

Sharma, S. (2005). Depiction of women in Indian media - A case of introspection for media planners. IndianJournal of Political Science, 1(1), 32-36.

Singh, A.K. (2010). Media power and press freedom. New Delhi: D.P.S.

Soobben, D. (2013). Photographic representation of women in the media: A case study of the post. Journal ofCommunication and Media Technologies, 36-59.

Thakur, K.C.. (2011). Women in world journalism. New Delhi: Cyber Tech.

Vasterman, P. L. (2005). Media-hype: Self-reinforcing news waves, journalistic standards and the constructionof social problems. European Journal of Communication, 20(4), 508–530.

Verghese, B. (2012). ‘Distortion of news is unethical and wrong’. Vidura, 4(2), 10.

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WSRC Activity Report (June 2013 – March 2014)

ACTIVITIES/EVENTS COMPLETED

• A seminar on “Gender and Media Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities”, in collaboration with theFaculty of Journalism and Communication was organized on October 5, 2013. The following eminentspeakers and columnists shared their views on the above theme.

Ms. Kalpana Sharma – Independent Journalist and Columnist, Former Deputy Editor and Chief of theBureau of The Hindu, Mumbai

Mr. Sanjay Chakraborty – Associate Vice President, Triton Communications, Ahmedabad

• Six weeks Part-Time Certificate Course on “Women’s Studies: Interdisciplinary perspectives”, wasconducted from September 2 - October 12, 2013. The teaching faculty represented experts from a range ofdisciplines such as social work, human development, sociology, history, fine arts, media, political science,psychology, law, education, and health. Students from different backgrounds and disciplines participatedin the course.

• WSRC partnered in the International Conference on Women and Millennium Development Goals: ASocial work Response, 13-14 February 2014, organized by Faculty of Social Work. The conference wasorganized in collaboration with Gender Resource Centre, Govt. of Gujarat; College of Social Work,University of South Caroline, USA. The unique feature of conference is its partnership with variousorganizations. The main objective of the conference was to maintain the momentum for acceleratingprogress to 2015, while taking stock of lessons learnt from efforts to achieve the MDGs so as to helpunderstand the Global Social work response to the development agenda beyond 2015. The conference hadreceived overwhelmed responses from national and international social work professionals, social sciencescholars, researchers and practitioners. 350 delegates had registered from India, United States of America,Australia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and United Kingdom.

• Women’s Day Celebration

As a part of Women’s Day celebration, the WSRC had organized Bookmark Making Competition andWall Painting Competition on the following themes - 1. Women’s Empowerment 2. Role of men inWomen’s Empowerment 3. Equality of women in development for all. Around 50 students from differentfaculties participated in the above events.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES/EVENTS

• Gender Sensitivity Sessions/Advocacy

The WSRC is conducting awareness sessions on Gender Sensitivity and Sexual Harassment in thedifferent faculties of the M. S. University of Baroda.

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• Documentation

The WSRC Library/Documentation Center’s collection is being strengthened with books, monographs,journals, reports, conference proceedings from a wide array of disciplines.

• Research Projects

− Identity Anchors of Emerging Adult Women in a Contemporary Indian Context.− Women with Disabilities in Gujarat.− Improving Child and Growth Development in First 1000 Days through Enhanced Home Visit

Strategy in ICDS Ghatak 1 of Vadodara City

• Courses Offered

The Women’s Studies Research Center is offering two choice based credit courses to students from allthe Departments in fourth and sixth semester. The course objective is to provide understanding aboutthe situation of women’s rights and laws in Indian society from different perspectives.

Release of WSRC Communique - Seminar on “Genderand Media Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities”

Part-Time Certificate Course on “Women’s Studies:Interdisciplinary perspectives”

Students participating in Book Mark Making Competition

WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATIONStudents participating in Wall Painting Competition

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Genesis of the Library and Documentation Center

The genesis of the library and documentation center dates back to the year 1985, when a team of scholars fromthe Illinois University, working in the area of Women in Development, had come to the M.S. University ofBaroda for establishing a collaborative project. That was the first attempt at collecting reference material onwomen in this part of India. This was followed by a number of activities that generated the awareness amongsta group of scholars from the M.S. University of Baroda to set up a resource center for the study of women inBaroda. The group worked towards building a center with the aid of the University Grants Commission (UGC).It was established as a resource center for people working in the areas associated with women’s studies. Today,the library and documentation center is an integral institution of WSRC.

Goals and Objectives of the Library and Documentation Center

The following are the goals and objectives of library and documentation center –

1. strengthen the existing library and documentation center;

2. document all the activities undertaken by WSRC;

3. promote gender sensitization and qualitative research work in gender;

4. reach out to a wide spectrum of users in Gujarat and rest of the country;5. develop and enrich the documentation area through collection building and computerization of the entire

resources;6. work as a resource centre by collecting and disseminating information based on latest research programs,

policies of local, state, national and international level;7. establish linkages with other women’s studies centers and social science libraries;8. act as a referral center;9. Continue publishing the newsletter – WSRC Communiqué focusing on the interdisciplinary nature of

gender.

Library Resources

The WSRC Library and Documentation Center is one of the well equipped libraries on gender studies inGujarat. The library presently houses -

1. Books2. Periodicals and Journals3. Bibliographies4. Reports, Monographs and Dossiers5. Rare Books and References6. Newspaper Clippings7. Documentary Films8. Posters on gender issues

Women’s Studies Research CenterLibrary and Documentation Center

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Subject Specialization

The library and documentation center has materials catering to various inter disciplinary subjects authored bywell-known authors and publishers. The subjects are -

1. Qualitative and gender research 2. Research methodologies3. Sociology and anthropology 4. Women and religion5. Sociology of women 6. Women and gender studies7. Women and empowerment 8. Feminism and sexualities9. Women’s movements 10. Women and politics11. Women and economics 12. Women and law13. Women and violence 14. Women and education15. Women and health 16. Women and literature

Library Services

The library and documentation center provides the following services –1. Reading facilities on the premises 2. Home lending services3. Reference services 4. Bibliographic services

Membership

The library and documentation center is an open access library and provides services to under graduate, postgraduate students, research scholars and faculty members of M.S.University of Baroda. Besides, the libraryalso caters to scholars and visiting fellows from different universities.

The membership of the library and documentation center is free of charge and open on all days(except Sundays and Govt. holidays) from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

The Library Assistant can be reached at Telephone: +91-265-2792106 Email: women.studies@yahoo.com

Glimpse of Library and Documentation Center