Abstract

Stereotypical portrayal of women through images and text in the media has been discussed and debated widely across the globe. The area remains relatively under published in the context of the third world especially Pakistan. To fill this gap this paper is an attempt to examine the role of the media in creating gender identities. Data for this study comes from selected English language newspaper namely “THE NEWS”. Discourse analysis of text and images - the most common way of producing and transmitting social meaning attached to social realities was employed to interpret of the data. The data reveals that the images and text produced through the media are biased, patriarchal and they reinforce male hegemony and control over women’s bodies and their minds. By doing this the media is strengthening the existing power structure of the Pakistani society. The images of women produced are those of victims of violence both domestic and public, sex objects, passive, dependent, weak and engaged in domestic roles. Consequently, standard images of feminity are idealized and normalized in the real world. Such practices act as barrier for women to escape traditional gender roles and expectations. The study argues that such images reinforce stereotypical roles and hence promote gender inequality instead of emancipation.

Highlights

  • Stereotypical portrayal of women through images and text in the media has been discussed and debated widely across the globe

  • This paper argues that the media images of women are advertised, publicized and promoted for marketing and enhancing profit at the expense their false and unrealistic descriptions

  • The findings of the paper will help to produce new debates and discourses about representation of women in Pakistani media - an area which remains under published in the context of this part of the world

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Summary

Media sobre la Mujer en Pakistán

La imagen estereotipada de la mujer a través de imágenes y texto en los media ha sido discutida y debatida ampliamente en todo el mundo. It has been argued that the portrayal of women in the news paper, advertisements as well as in TV commercials promote extreme thinness and exposed bodies of women in contrast to the images of men focusing on their faces (Shaheen & Parveen; Ullah & Khan, 2014). Such portrayal of women in the media and the expectations to be perfect puts immense pressure to have beautiful bodies, and to look smart and young (Elasmar et al, 1999; Signorielli & McLead, 1994). The findings of the paper will help to produce new debates and discourses about representation of women in Pakistani media - an area which remains under published in the context of this part of the world

Theoretical Framework
Methodology
Sports and Political Coverage
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