Generally, the media lags behind reality. You could go and watch a movie, tune into the radio, surf online or switch on your television set.
Regardless whichever media you choose, you will always encounter gender discrimination. Most of the time, women are sexually and mentally harassed in any type of media.
Women belong to a category who talks less and has lesser opinion to play roles as a leaders or professionals. They are consistently portrayed in domestic roles or seen as an accomplice to their male counterpart, who often features in a position of power.
The constant representation of women as less powerful, and highly sexualized and erotic roles portrays a very negative image to the society.
Research spanning more than 100 countries have found that almost 46 per cent of news stories, in print and radios uphold gender stereotypes. Men still behold half of the top media management positions while women represent less than one-third of the population.
Women have struggled to break through into male-dominated society for decades due to stereotype characters portrayed in the media.
However these kinds of stereotype needs to change to bring a social impact to the society. But how?
In order to lessen these types of influences, women in the media must increase including the decision-making, leadership and the management.
Encouraging women’s training, adopting professional guidelines to reduce discrimination, and establishing media watch groups are some part of measures. Women should get more involved in information and communications technologies and media networks
The media shape our world, but so do women as powerful agents of change in all areas of the society. Now, it’s time for media to reflect the reality to the society.
