Abstract
Women in Pakistan are facing a number of problems. Their identities and rights are heavily influenced by sociocultural, legal and religious values upheld in the country. Media, as an industry and liberal agent of socialization, has become a platform for value contestation and value promotion. This paper analyzed the discourse of liberal and traditional values in daily Dawn (news, reports, articles, editorials), from July 15, 2016 to October 20, 2016, to explore how the murder of Qandeel Baloch was discussed and analyzed while constructing the liberal and traditional values about women’s issues. The results show that individualism, self-interest, freedom of expression, sexual freedom, free mobility and visibility, and liberal principles of justice were constructed as rational and pro-women. Tradition, religion, religiosity, piety, modesty, submissiveness and virginity were constructed as oppressive and patriarchal constructs to be left behind on the way of modernity, liberation and empowerment. The sexual freedom and provocative activities of Qandeel Baloch were admired and praised and she was constructed as a woman of substance and honour.
Highlights
This study aims to analyze how the selected publication, the daily Dawn, analyzes the current sociocultural, legal, and economic status of women in the context of social media star’s murder
Dawn constructed that no one has the right to interfere in the lives of women. Women who do such daring activities, such as Qandeel Baloch, that are assumed as rebellion against tradition and religion are constructed as ideals and inspiration for modern women
While the daily Dawn’s construction of liberal values for women is useful to evident the changing notions of tradition and modernity on the subject of women’s empowerment in Pakistan, yet the data is limited to reflect the role of entire English language press in circulating liberal ideas for women
Summary
Resolution is part of the preamble that dictates superiority of Quran and Sunnah (Prophet’s traditions). Zia’s Islamisation is still influencing Pakistani society in many toxic ways (Toor, 2014). These legal changes negatively affected women and ideologies of gender roles and relations in Pakistan. Within this background, Pakistan has ratified The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 1979 (CEDAW). Due to the commitment to CEDAW, Pakistan introduced several Acts and amendments in Pakistan Penal Code for women. These laws and amendments failed to bring any significant social change in Pakistan. The recent Protection of Women Bill 2006 reflects the social mindset that emphasize culture and ideology of the State
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