Class 11 sociology project file topic-Gender discrimination in assam.please write 1 and 2 pages and paste 2 or 3 photos.
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Answer:
Journal of Education & Social Policy Vol. 1 No. 1; June 2014
84
Portrayal of Women in Indian Mass Media: An Investigation
Himashree Patowary
Research scholar, PhD
Assam University
Silchar
Abstract
Media’s role towards women is becoming the growing concern of the feminist writers, basically regarding
participation, performance and portrayal of women. Because different circumstances relating to the media’s role
towards portraying the fair sex have opened a new angle by leaps and bounds to think precisely about it. There
are various criticisms raised by the feminists. According to the different feminists writers such as Simon de
Beauvoir, Shulamith Firestone, Kate Millet, Gallagher, Bretty Friedman, media are reinforcing stereotype images
of women as they are inferior, subordinate and submissive and only are the house wives devoid of all qualities of
decision making. India also there are various feminist writers such as Ritu Menon, Kamala vasin, Kiran Prasad
who have criticised the role of print and visual media towards women and portraying them. They focus on the
point that as Indian society is male dominated and this dominance can be seen everywhere and unfortunately
media is not the exeption to that.
1. Introduction
Women’s participation, performance and portrayal in media are the three important dimensions of study for the
social science researchers of modern time, especially for the feminists. Because for the empowerment and
development of the women section, it is very important to give them proper environment where they can raise
their voices against the inequalities and the gender-gap they are experiencing in our male dominated or patriarchal
societies. Improving the status of women, in every aspect, is regarded as the only way to eradicate this gender gap
and achieving a better quality of life for the women. For this, communication can be regarded as vital way and
mass media can play a significant role in shaping social values, attitudes, norms, perception and behaviour. It has
been widely recognised that media can play substantial role in promoting and disseminating information among
the masses and are regarded as the key players in the social, political and economic development of women.
Media can focus all the problems faced by women, these can give a space for women to talk about their rights or
freedoms and most importantly media can provide a democratic environment where women can participate,
represent their womanhood and in which they will be portrayed positively. A positive portray of women in media
is necessary to maintain the real dignity and status of women which will minimise the gap and inequalities
between men and women. But if media also become male dominated or play the role as a mere agent to forward
this tradition then the whole situation will be against the women where their development and empowerment will
not be possible.
The term media is widely used as a short hand for ‘Mass Media’. The word media is the plural form of medium.
Conceptually, the media are those technological agencies which are engaged in the creation, selection, processing
and distribution of messages among the people. As a logical connotation, the mass media deal with the day to day
problems of the nation and especially of the general people. It contributes towards the emergence of mass society
and mass culture.
Mass Media in India, like every modern and advanced country, comprises of the Print media and Electronic media
which are composed of the Radio, the Television, the Film, the Press, Publication and Advertising. Among these
media, the television, films, Advertisements, photography, animation, paintings etc. are regarded as the visual
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