CONTENTS

Editorial • Message from the Director i • Message from the Guest Editor ii Perspectives 1 Gender and Media Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities – A Report 1 2. Quote - Unquote : A Media Mirror 3 3. Walk the Talk : An Excerpt 4 Contributions 1. Get an Education, Grab that Technology… Help Yourself 7 2. Promoting Gender Mainstreaming in Media Education and Research 10 3. Women in Media in the age of Globalization 12 4. Hindi Soap Operas: A Boon or Bane? 13 5. Mobile phones and Gender: A Technological Bridge 15 6. Understanding Gender and Media: A Novice Perspective 16 7. One Step Forward and Two Steps Back 18 8. Women as an Object: By Will or Forced? 19 9. Violence against Women and the Role of Media 21 10. Gender Disguise in the Indian Entertainment Industry: Cross Dressing 23 11. Moving Towards new AGENDA for GENDER : Spaces for Discourse 25 Book Review • Media, Gender and Popular Culture in India: Tracking Change and Continuity 27 Current Statistics • Representation of Women in News Media: A Survey by Media Studies Group 29 Insight • AMbpfp¡dp„ drlgpAp¡“¡ gNsp kdpQpfp¡ ‘f A¡L$ “S>f 32 Bibliography· • Archives : Gender and Media 33 • Relevant Readings: Gender and Media 35 WSRC News • Activity Report 37 • Documentation Center 39 Guest Editor Nidhi Shendurnikar Tere Senior Research Fellow (UGC-SRF) Department of Political Science Faculty of Arts The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Editorial Assistant Nalanda Tambe Senior Master Student Faculty of Journalism and Communication The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Hon. Director Prof. Shagufa Kapadia Professor Department of Human Development and Family Studies Faculty of Family and Community Sciences The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Publication coordination - Geetha Srinivasan Library Assistant Women’s Studies Research Center The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Khushbu Suthar Program Officer Women’s Studies Research Center The 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 our identity to a large extent and media defines our world or, at least our perception of much of the world. The intersection between the two is thus inevitable. In this age of technology media engulfs us 24/7, literally. Being perpetually swamped with messages, the media has a powerful influence on our thoughts as individuals and as a society. A “catch-22” kind of question that often arises in discussions related to media and gender is as follows: 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 the recent 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 perspectives on gender and media from academicians and practicing media professionals, thereby presenting an interdisciplinary outlook on the theme. Together the articles highlight the opportunities that the gender-media intersection offers and the challenges that need to be met, yet.

Shagufa Kapadia, PhD Professor of Human Development

i Message from the Guest Editor Gender and Media

We live in a world of ‘mediatized realities’. As both consumers and creators of media content, the way we absorb socio-political realities is being increasingly influenced by media dynamics. In an era dominated by globalization and media proliferation, it is difficult to overlook media’s effect on gender dynamics, especially in the context of a developing country like India. The scenario post the Delhi gang rape (December 2012) has become 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 dwelling brings issues of grave concern to the limelight. However, public opinion on media coverage of gender issues has been critical of media selectivity and media framing in order to garner audience attention. Presently, media debates on gender are propelled by the profit motive, leading to sensational and trivial coverage. It is in this backdrop that we set out to examine the nuances of media’s role with respect to gender in the current issue of this newsletter. The theme sprang up when the Women’s Studies Research Centre (WSRC) and The Faculty of Journalism & Communication (FJC) collaborated for a UGC sponsored National Seminar on ‘Gender and Media Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities’ (October 2013). It was realized that the theme offered an exciting 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 and their experiences, this issue attempts to go beyond conventional discourse. The attempt has been to incorporate write-ups from a variety of perspectives such as debates on media coverage of LGBT issues, gender reflections in cinema, the politics of gendered debates in India, gender and media technology, gender in media research and education (a crucial line of thought - training communication professionals). Any discussion on media and gender also involves ‘women in the media’, the circumstances they work under, their work environment and the 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 the theme. This theme is significant because gender sensitive reportage and information dissemination is required more than ever before – since today we are faced with an increased rate of crime/violence towards women and other gender based minorities in the public and private sphere. This calls for a heightened level of awareness and responsibility on part of the media. A gender sensitive, a gender conscious media is indeed the need of the hour in a democratic political set up like India – wherein the media cannot restrict itself to information and entertainment. 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 gender from the standpoint of the press, audio-visual media, cinema, media research and media education. Most importantly, the newsletter consists of contributions from practising media professionals who encounter news routines on a daily basis and thus can provide a real time view of how gender sensitive current media practice are. The theme itself is interdisciplinary in nature and the contributions in the newsletter are reflective of the same. It has been our attempt to make this issue comprehensive and dialogic - of immense benefit to scholars and researchers engaged in different disciplines. Media responses to gender ought to come from every section of the society and this issue is a modest beginning in that direction. We hope that with this academic attempt of ours, deliberations on the media’s role with respect to gender will be taken forward at every level, especially in centres of higher education and other scholarly domains. I hope through this issue our readers will look forward to an exciting and refreshing array of opinions that envisage a free, fair and gender sensitive ‘fourth estate’.

Nidhi Shendurnikar Tere Senior Research Fellow (UGC-SRF) Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda [email protected] ii Gender and Media Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities – A Report Kiran Bhatia Col. Lalit Kandpal Students, (FJC) Geetha Srinivasan Library Assistant Women’s Studies Research Center

“Gender and Media Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities” UGC sponsored Regional Seminar, held on 5th October, 2013. Hosted by Women’s Studies Research Center Faculty of Family and Community Sciences & Faculty of Journalism and Communication

Media plays a crucial role in the struggle for fair serves as a synoptic presentation of the proceedings gender representation and can bridge the gap between of the seminar. social identities of women and men. The promotion Around 285 participants from all across the of gender equality both within the working University including students, research scholars, environment and in the portrayal of women through lecturers, professors, Heads of the various the use of fair and positive images, concepts and Departments, Deans, Advisory committee members, language can ensure a reconstruction of gender issues the Hon. Director of the WSRC and representatives as being independent of the biases of the patriarchal of different NGO’s and other different institutes from discourse. Media has a potential of harnessing the in and around Vadodara graced the seminar with their capacities of women as socio-political actors by presence. encouraging their involvement in technical, decision making and agenda setting activities as opposed to INAUGURAL SESSION: perceiving them as mere audience. Prof. Uma Joshi, Dean, Faculty of Family and The seminar provided an extensive understanding of Community Science, inaugurated the seminar with the dynamic relationship between media and gender generic remarks about the portrayal of women in the issues. The discussion threw light on how media has society so as to familiarize the audience with either under-represented or misrepresented gender pertinent issues related to the core theme. She specific issues which has ensued multiple delineated, through a comparison between the era implications in terms of insensitive, straight jacketed of 90s and the contemporary situation, how the role and negative values being attached to the so called of media failed to rectify societal structure eventually ‘second sex’. The sessions forced all to contemplate resulting in challenges being multiplied. Critical whether media has actually created an awakening in questions about societal structures which impede people that women are the prime movers of change women’s development were put forth by or has, in negation, purportedly reinforced prejudices Prof. Yogesh Singh, the Vice-Chancellor of the and stereotypes. The seminar provided a stage for M. S. University. He expressed the urgent need to conceptualization of new vistas of holistic harness the power of technological advancements comprehension of gender issues. These intellectual to cater to safety demands of girls’ students in discussions are incorporated in this report which colleges. Mobile Technology must be exploited in a big way to ensure safety to women. The discussion dependent and economically empowered they have was taken ahead by Prof. Amit Dholakia, Registrar greater access to various products and are decision (O.S.D.) and Director, Communication Cell, as he makers. Advertisements touch upon these hidden appreciated this collaborative venture undertaken by emotions of self-worth and assurance to attract FJC and WSRC. He found the theme exciting for it women buyers. Advertising for women oriented had a multidisciplinary character and initiated products needs special treatment to ensure that they debates on concepts about gender issues which never aim the select emotions of the target audience. could achieve a conclusive approach. According to Mr. Sanjay, advertisers first try to understand the psyche of potential consumers to SESSION ON “WOMEN IN MEDIA: A create effective advertisements. This he termed as REALITY CHECK” ‘consumer insights’ which help the agencies to Ms. Kalpana Sharma, Columnist, Former Dy. discover the ‘unthought-of known’ and exploit the Editor, The Hindu (Mumbai) talked at length about same to garner attention. how media defines or represents gender and related INTERACTIVE SESSION issues. Level of women participation in any institution reflects the value and authority that In the open discussion round, several questions were women enjoy. She talked about ‘invisibilization’ of raised with regard to the concepts discussed by the many cardinal issues that stand a need to find panel of expert speakers. The discussion steered expression so that society can take developmental towards conceptualization of issues such as strides in all domains. These concepts are ignored modifying media policies to give appropriate as media opts for selective coverage and concentrates expressions to gender related issues and developing on issues which would add to the company’s media credibility which sells on the basis of intensive entertainment quotient. Even crimes against women and meaningful journalism. Role of advertisements are portrayed as a tool to call for attention and in shaping public opinions on gender issues was important issues go unnoticed. Media stoops to debated upon and led to the rise of consensus that deplorable lows in order to sensationalize violence though advertising industry depends entirely on against women, especially rape. Conclusively, she capital generation it can still make space for catering opined that a possibly influential solution could be to societal improvements by refusing to present a change in men’s mindsets so that they cease from negative images of women which reinforce thinking about women as mere supplementary stereotypes and the age old patriarchal framework objects. For this it is essential that all men are given of existence. space wherein they could evolve themselves as individuals who respect women.

SESSION ON “CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN THE WORLD OF ADVERTISING”

Mr. Sanjay Chakraborty, Associate Vice-President, Triton Communications, Ahmedabad, screened a multimedia presentation on ‘Importance of Women in Advertising’. Women are an integral part of the society and play a dominant role in consumer markets where many products are especially designed keeping their needs, inclination and motivation in mind. As women have gradually become self-

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Walk the Talk: An Excerpt Interview with Ms. Kalpana Sharma Former Deputy Editor and Chief of Bureau The Hindu (Mumbai)

Nidhi Shendurnikar Tere Nalanda Tambe

INTERVIEW OF MS. KALPANA SHARMA

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

What is your opinion about gendered media? That is what I would call a gendered media. I do not know whether there is an academic definition but as K.S: The way I would interpret gendered media is a practitioner if someone says that we need a media that is conscious of gender. You are conscious gendered media then I would take it positively. Of that there is something like gender which has to be course it can also be a negative connotation, meaning addressed in the way media conducts itself in every the media is gendered in that your access and ability form. For instance, stories, headlines, content and to move ahead and the stuff that you can write is placement of the stories and even advertisements. determined by gender and not by your capability.

4 How would you relate gender with media literacy issues can make a difference because at the moment and media socialization? you get into the media and that is the end of your training. When I joined, we used to have mentoring K.S: Either you can say the whole thing of how from the seniors. So you would work on the stories, gendered the media is in terms of access, both in they would look at it and tell you what is wrong and terms of reading and accessing it. For those within if they edited it then they would explain you why the media it also means their access and ability to they did so. If you went on an assignment, your senior get ahead within the profession. That is one aspect. would brief you before you went. When you came The other aspect what you are talking about is more back you would have a debriefing session where you in terms of content of media and whether it is explained what you saw and discussed how to do sensitive to gender. In fact if you do a survey you the best story and what angles to take. None of these will see that they are not. It comes out not in the takes place now. So there is no ongoing education most blatant forms always but with a kind of and definitely there is a need for it. I don’t think at invisibility. Even something as simple as getting an the moment anyone is even thinking about that. We expert opinion, it’s as if there are no women who have tried through our women and media network are experts. It’s only men. In the electronic media if to intervene especially with topics like sexual assault you want to get opinions of people on any with some media houses and one or two were open controversial issue, you will see all men. Maybe one to it. This is not insignificant, but very little. token woman! Over all these years haven’t women gained expertise to be able to express their As a media consumer, is it going to make a knowledge? Due to this fact that it has always been difference, if I am media literate and aware about men, you have to take that conscious effort to correct what goes on in the newsroom? Is that going to that balance by ensuring that the opinions of women help alter how media consumers look at the way are incorporated. Similarly in reporting, now at least media reports on gender issues? there is some consciousness in the use of noun and K.S: Even if they question, what difference will it pronoun; like ‘he’ and ‘she’. There are many editors now who consciously say “she and her”. The editors make to media reporting? Of course there is a need for media literacy and I think it should be introduced specifically write “she” because we have always said in schools. They should be taught how media should “he”. It’s a small token thing which is important. Moreover, gender neutral terms like “journalists” and be looked at skeptically, the particular way in which news is manufactured and presented. “reporters” are also being used but that is not enough. What is your opinion about the media’s role as What is still continuously missing in the media is an agent of socialization in purview of increasing that there are many issues which have an impact on gender related crimes in society? women, but there is no effort made to assess that impact in routine reporting. For every event there is K.S: It is an agent of socialization when it comes to a gendered impact which the media fails to reinforcing gender stereotyping. Media keeps on understand. gender stereotyping especially in advertisements. Eg: So can media literacy change it? Media after a sexual assault dwells on what the girl wore and was she drunk or not. So this socializes K.S: Media literacy is again a two way thing. It is people to believe that women who wear certain types how we read the media. What I am telling you is of clothes are the one who get raped. To me the most media literacy because I have read the media to dangerous thing is the extremely insensitive manner understand that they are not gendered. However, in which media reports sexual violence. Details about making our media persons literate is actually what the crime committed are not necessary, they may be we are talking about. Ongoing education for necessary for the case but not for the public. It is journalists and people of the media on important just to get one more story. So the end results are that

5 you are not sensitive to the person who has suffered. an FIR immediately. Many such cases are not given It also creates an atmosphere of fear which is of no space in the media. help to women. People tend to believe that everything So does that signify the need for media attention outside is more unsafe and dangerous and this is what for justice to be delivered? Are we proceeding the media successfully projects. towards a state of affairs where media hype is What is your opinion about the media’s role required to procure justice? Is this a positive or (especially the press) in the Delhi gang rape negative trend? incident? K.S: It’s a negative thing. As ultimately the criminal K.S: The gang rape took place in Delhi and it is a justice system must work for everybody and the media capital. So before that a Dalit woman would exception cannot be the rule. What is happening now have been raped outside Delhi and nobody would is that we are just concentrating on these exceptions. have bothered. This was a girl who was coming from Ultimately people who are more educated and better a cinema, right in the middle of Delhi, who rides on off are able to draw attention and get the justice that the bus and who got raped. So it had all the elements the poor do not get. So that is what is to be addressed. of something that the media would jump on. So they A woman of any caste, if she is assaulted then she did. Now that the convictions have come, media has should be confident to go the police. There is no definitely played a role in that. One worrying aspect system wherein if a victim of sexual violence reports was we are not allowed to give the identity of the to a hospital, there are no facilities where woman and so media creates fictitious names and immediately forensic reports are taken and this is completely wrong. You are denying this counseling is done. Even if she files a case, it’s a woman a double agency. I mean she feels that she long process after that. There are many issues and has lost an agency by the manner she was assaulted concerns to be accounted for. and then you go with the name where she doesn’t There is no effort by the local media on such issues. have any choice. You didn’t ask her that should we What they would usually do is to sensationalize the call you Damini or Nirbhaya. Just because you are story and use it to create hype after which it fizzles too lazy to figure out how you will report without down. There is no follow up and hence basic issues giving the name, you just decide to give her a name? remain unaddressed. It is certainly good to have So that was a very wrong thing on the part of media. mechanisms in place but what about the effort on Of course after a certain point media started part of the media to investigate whether these are horrifying and it just became a circus. The good thing functional or not? was the Justice Verma Committee was appointed and The responsibility cannot be only on the media. laws were amended. The negative part is that such Whatever the systems that are put in place are cases will go on happening as we have one live dependent on the higher authorities and they also example of the Mumbai gang rape recently. This is have to take efforts to ensure implementation. the media story now. People staying abroad now say However media scrutiny always helps. For instance that people in India have become very dangerous take the entire justice system. The media there can for women because of the kind of hype in India only address specific issues. What can be done media. instead is newspapers can ask their reporters to take Was the media very intrusive during the Delhi follow ups of certain cases every year which need gang rape and did it go overboard? Where is the not be the high profile ones. media when rapes are happening all over the What is your opinion about imparting gender country? sensitive training to media professionals? K.S: Obviously, the selection of this particular one, K.S: It is very much needed. One way is through apart from the horror of it was because of the fact journalism courses. Gender sensitive reporting that it was a Delhi based rape. Even Bombay gang should be a compulsory component in all the media rape didn’t get so much hype. The Mumbai girl has training courses. Also I think you can bring in the survived and she is a brave girl as she went and filed journalists who are conscious of the media aspect

6 and will do something about it. Secondly, I think all Do corporatization, commercialization and the media schools can contact their local media and sensationalism in the media impact the coverage offer them gender trainings. So it’s possible that you of gender based issues? get a response because if it is some university then they might think that there isn’t some other agenda, K.S: I don’t think gender based issues generally but so they might respond. On the other hand if the editor I think it is gender based violence. This is because it finds a need to impart such training to the journalists links between the selling of the product and the kind then it is quite possible because the journalists of product which will sell it. So the conclusion is themselves won’t sense any need to take the training. crimes of passion, of murders, suicides in prominent Certainly there has to be an intervention. Our individuals; all these people like to read about and network of women and media in Mumbai approached so they will give full coverage. All the newspapers two newspapers on the issue of gender sensitive now have space for the crime reports. They give half training and we conducted a half-day workshop on a page to the crime stories. Graphic and minute this for the entire staff. We really had a good details are given and in suicide literally how the discussion about reporting of sexual assaults. After suicide is committed is also covered. You see this workshop both the organizations reported such newspapers anywhere else in the world and you will issues very sensitively by not disclosing the names of victims of sexual assaults. So something good never see this. In India though, commercialization happened after our efforts. in media has completely gone off-board. There is no sense of balancing issues and whatever sells is given priority.

Get an Education, Grab that Technology...Help Yourself Niti Chopra Officiating Dean Faculty of Journalism and Communication The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda [email protected]

Backdrop

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend the inaugural day proceeds of the National Education Summit held under the aegis of Vibrant Gujarat 2014 titled “Towards Educating Young India”; a wide and apt platform where educationists from top Universities and Institutes in the state and few from abroad, as well Vice Chancellors from many Universities in India had congregated to make presentations and discuss this much relevant and topical theme. Beginning with the inaugural plenary addressed by the Provost of partner country Italy, the emphasis that set the tone of the deliberations was “Interdisciplinarity”. The echo that resounded through the day was that it is now relevant more than ever before to augment and fulfill the complete scope 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 Knowledge Commission (NKC) too have strongly recommended that a student entering into any stream should get a wider choice of subjects. Responding to this call, most Universities in Gujarat today have made the shift to Semester system and offer CBCS (Choice Based Credit System). The emphasis on computer education and use of modern technologies at all levels now is of course, a given.

7 Women and Millennium Development Goals observe and do. Media, as they evolved in the twentieth century have always been technology In international politics, women and men have long driven. The technical multipronged growth of the been viewed as having different roles and media also spontaneously led to its permeation into responsibilities in the maintenance and development society, and inadvertently led to their taking into of societies. During the growth of NGOs and ambit the issues of the time, contentious or otherwise. international institutions, little attention was paid to Themes around gender and feminism always having women’s movements and women’s activism. The been sensitive in nature, inevitably found a place in United Nations (UN) has always worked to equalize media purview. Hence, the Gender and Media gender disparity, at least in some contexts; however Intersect has always remained a very exciting one. it wasn’t until 1995, at the Fourth World Conference on Women that women rights were officially However, there are two distinct ways in which this recognized as human rights. Over the past 18 years, interface can be further strengthened. One is that the UN has worked towards the advancement of persons working in sector/s of women’s issues should women’s rights, as well as improving the living try to effectively reach out to the media though conditions for persons around the world. In recent appropriate conduits, as also create topical years, information and communication technology informative material which could be used from time (ICT), social media, traditional media and internet to time. But what might best work is that if, in access have contributed to providing easier access keeping with the educational reforms that are being for women to be engaged in international politics, currently implemented, the mainstream educational and the work of the UN. The act of including women modes are tapped by offering courses on Gender in all aspects of the Millennium Development Goals Studies1 through which students may earn credits — (MDGs) signifies a global change in attitudes that would be one of the most surefooted way to go. towards women, and their value in development, Second, media education institutes will have to tread regardless of whether or not all the goals are met1. the interdisciplinary path too. Mere exposure to critical issues may not suffice any more. Instead, Inspired by the Millennium Declaration, the students should have to subscribe and partake fully subsequent eight Millennium Development Goals in the proceeds of all the learning methodologies and (MDGs) accompanied by a set of time-bound targets required coursework, understand the concepts, and and indicators served as a road map to monitor finally attain the desired objectives and outcomes. progress. Progress towards the MDGs so far has been This complete exercise alone, will equip them to uneven, and significant gaps and challenges remain competently and sensitively treat the gender issues in their implementation for women and girls. As the that they will face, personally and as practicing 2015 target date for their achievement approaches, communication professionals. efforts to accelerate implementation are intensifying. At the same time, intergovernmental and UN-led This mutual synergy between the Gender and Media processes are well under way to inform and design a sectors would help reduce arbitrary and tokenistic post-2015 development agenda and Sustainable approaches to representation of women’s issues and Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2015 also marks portrayals in the public domain and lead to the more the twentieth anniversary of the Fourth World necessary, meaningful and perhaps even corrective Conference on Women and the adoption of the ones. Today, women themselves are empowered to Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, use tools of the communications and media trade. implementation of the commitments made nearly 20 New Media offers tremendous scope to create and years ago have taken on new urgency. share information on wide and easily accessible platforms2. The Gender and Media Intersection An intersection is that space, a junction where lines 1. WSRC-MSU offers two such courses: Women, Society and or roads or surfaces cross or intersect. What makes Development, and Women, Rights and Laws; both of 3 credits each. it interesting, and quite antithetically so, is that within the apparent bounds of the seam of the intersection 2. Google India’s hwgo (Helping Women Get Online) project is a very interesting case in point (www.hwgo.com) actually lie limitless possibilities of what one can

8 Ushering in Pedagogy of Change In keeping with the theme this year of the CSW session “… access and participation of women and Finally, the Commission on the Status of Women, at girls to education, training, science and technology, its upcoming 58th session in March 2014 (CSW58), including for the promotion of women’s equal access has a critical opportunity for evaluating results to full employment and decent work3 …”, one hopes, achieved through the MDG framework from a gender that cogent thought and acknowledgement will be perspective; to better understand the achievements given to local, indigenous educational endeavors, the and challenges in implementing the MDGs for tangible outcomes they lead to, and the significant women and girls; accelerate progress in achieving contributions these make towards the larger global the MDGs; and identify key gender equality issues reckoning. Ultimately, in a broad sense, a shift to be addressed, including in the ongoing debate on towards a healthy perception of gender roles can the post-2015 development framework. The actually lead to resolving the myriad problems that discussions and outcomes of the session should also plague our society. Most of the challenges, which contribute to the Beijing+20 process and add impetus eventually take on complicated dimensions and to preparations at all levels. In interactive panels, sometimes turn cumulatively destructive, sadly the Commission will focus on experiences, lessons emanate from these very innate, discriminative learned and good practices. It will assess tendencies. It is clear that today women are equal achievements and identify gaps and challenges; partners in the processes of change and development, discuss ways and means to accelerate achievement sharing everything with a sense of deep equanimity. of the MDGs for women and girls, and for giving In the attempts towards making this to be understood priority to a comprehensive vision of gender equality, and accepted, an endemic academic approach, women’s rights and empowerment in the post-2015 undertaken and implemented at the grassroots and development agenda. The Commission will adopt in as early an interventional way as possible, though agreed conclusions that are expected to identify gaps appearing to be seemingly pedantic and dry, may just and challenges in the implementation of existing turn out to be the more lasting, humanizing and commitments and address action-oriented healing solution. recommendations to states, relevant intergovernmental bodies, mechanisms and entities.

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

9 Promoting Gender Mainstreaming in Media Education and Research

Archana Chanuvai Narahari Media Educator, Vadodara, Gujarat [email protected]

The constructions of gender through media are predominantly evident since ages at the global level. These are relentlessly taking new shapes along with constant cultural changes. This scenario is throwing new challenges to media from time to time. In fact, this situation questions the media’s greater responsibility, as its role is not just to scour gender stereotypes being projected in media, but also to sensitize the society towards gender mainstreaming 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 the United Nations (UN) called for collective action from The Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 (UN, 2002). In this milieu, media undoubtedly showed a sort of positive response by enhancing ‘space’ for women’s issues. Subsequently many questions have been raised on under-representation of women in media, their portrayal in limited roles etc. Issues with regard to status of women in journalism and other media professions have also been discussed vividly.

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

Despite recommendations by the University Grants Commission (UGC), universities in the country have a long 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 and particularly in media education are given below.

² 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 equipped with knowledge and skills to maintain gender in-house practices.

² Various issues pertaining to – students and staff approach towards gender; how to incorporate gender mainstreaming in teaching methods; modifications in syllabi, course modules; procuring and providing proper study material on gender issues, drafting guidelines for implementation of in-house training and workshops at faculty or department level, identifying key components for attitude training; feedback mechanisms etc. can be delineated in university level workshops.

² 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.

10 Micro-level interventions with media students should be encouraged as a part of course-curriculum to bring about 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 their implication 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 in the 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 its contribution to the achievement of socio-economic objectives. • An understanding of positive impact on society, when such a gender neutral approach is adopted and practiced 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, students should 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 highly encouraged, 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 creative programmes with absolute ‘gender neutral’ approach. • Community journalism projects can be initiated with a close vigilant eye on major community level problems, and hidden gender related issues. These on-the-job training projects would involve thorough research and observation, field surveys, interaction with local population, deep root-cause analysis and thereby proper media programme planning. • Media students should be trained to inculcate the habit of creating awareness on such issues by using new media platforms like Blogs, Twitter and Facebook and YouTube. • Collaboration of media departments in universities with non-governmental organizations & research institutes working on gender issues should be spear-headed by teaching faculty to provide a holistic educational 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

11 Women in Media in the age of Globalization Baishakhi Nag Lecturer Dept. of Journalism & Mass Communication Bhairab Ganguly College , Kolkata [email protected]

It is indeed very intriguing that women who have emerge either as pretty, docile and dependent been ideally viewed as ‘Shakti’ and that all power individuals or they are just the opposite – strong, emanates from her have been ridiculed to such an independent or half-clothed sexy dolls. Indian extent that she needs to be empowered once more to cinema has depicted some of the worst forms of defend her degenerated status. Demons surround her violence on women and the approach adopted and as such she needs to defend herself to avenge all towards women’s issues can be characterized as wrongs. It is indeed hard to find women who have insensitive. However, TV serials like ‘Rajni’ and not been relegated to a secondary position. She is at films like ‘Damini’ (1993) go a long way in positively times discriminated, exploited and proved wrong at projecting women who have championed their cause every possible circumstance. Her existence has been of independence and self-support. reduced to a continuous battle for survival. Magazines for women often have articles on There are series of problems that plague women – ‘feminine instincts’ - to keep men and their in-laws poor health indicators, lower literacy rates, lower happy and seldom comment on career opportunities, income levels, poor female to male ratio, female health awareness, entrepreneurship and issues of infanticide and much more. The media, instead of identity. There should be objective representation of taking up the case of exploited women, often tend to women both in the public and private sectors of sensationalize atrocities on women. It is the media. This would ensure a source of livelihood for responsibility of the media to be fair and objective them along with their adequate and effective while reporting crimes against women. Media is a representation in the society. powerful tool to enable women to justify their position in all aspects of life - be it social, economic In the present world, alternative media has a major or political. role to perform. It advocates democratization of communication and different information and Television to a large extent portrays women as interpretations that can support social struggles, individuals lacking identity and self-worth – as awaken women’s consciousness to their domestic, pretty, having children, bringing them up subordination, advocate and defend rights and can and imposing responsibility on their men to act as equip grassroots women leaders to be the voice of bread-earners. The leading ladies in popular change. Information and communication technology television serials are exhibited as tormentors or (ICT) together with other forms of communication victims; whereas men are reduced to inconsequential can allow women to bring in economic and social objects and are often in a fix to break them free from progress and make informed decision on different the web of unfavorable circumstances. issues they are connected with. Thus, women can be potentially tapped by ICTs which have a great Movies as well as magazine advertisements are very capacity to encourage and support women to find explicit and treat women as sex objects Women have their place in the information revolution. long lost their true identity in cinema. They tend to

12 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? Bhakti Patel Student Master of Communication Studies Faculty of Journalism and Communication The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda [email protected]

Do you relate any Hindi Television Soap Opera story topic. Soap operas are for entertainment and for those or any of its character to your own life? This was who like watching melodramatic plots. Some one of the key questions put to women respondents instances caught my attention. It was a Gujarati for the research survey under the topic “Effects of wedding in the city and I was invited for all the major Popular Hindi Television Soap Operas on Women ceremonies. For the first time in my life I saw non- in Vadodara”, a dissertation research project of gujarati rituals being adapted from the reel to real Masters in Communication Studies. One of the life. One of the prime objectives of the research study respondents replied, “Yes, it does”. It was a part of was to understand the effects of Hindi TV Soaps on a story in a soap opera which changed my the lifestyles of women in Vadodara. The present perspective on certain critical issues in life. I am day women adjusts all her household work during very thankful to my parents who insisted that I watch advertisements aired between serials and makes sure this serial. It’s like I have started a new journey in that she doesn’t miss a single episode of her life”. I was forced to question myself, when and how favourite soap opera. did Hindi serials empower women by the way of all the drama and twists that are an integral part of their The present phase storyline? To my surprise, I discovered that it was At the period of initiation of Hindi Television soap Punar Vivah (2012) broadcasted on Zee TV which operas in India, serials like ‘Hum log’(1984), influenced the respondent to remarry and think of ‘Buniyaad’ (1986), ‘Shanti’(1994), ‘Swabhiman’ her child’s (from her first husband) future. (1995), ‘Humraahi’(1994) left a social message for Through the research work that I am currently the society to absorb. Aspects like education, family carrying out, there were many respondents who were planning and justice were reflected through the not serious towards the questions that I put in the stories of the above mentioned serials. Then came survey and interview research. Well, rarely though, the Saas Bahu sagas by Ekta Kapoor, popularly I gave a second thought to changing the research known as the Queen of Hindi serials. The focus of

13 the serials at that point shifted from delivering social Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ (2009) became a trend setter messages to conflicts in family, rich business family’s in the market. Trends in fashion set in by soap operas lifestyle and traditional issues. The ‘K’ series had have flourished in the Indian markets in recent times. umpteen similarities in its storylines like conflicts Inspired by this, an online blog https:// hatched in by vamps in the family, death of the indiaemporim.com/blog/ethnic-fashion-reinstated- protagonist, reappearance of the leading man/lady by-indian-soap-operas has set an example through and much more melodrama. People were keen to their ‘Akshara Suit’ collection and ‘Rashmi Desai predict the way the story line would proceed even Saree’ collection. Rashmi Desai’s negative role as before it was telecasted. Such was the clamour and ‘Tapasya’ in “Uttaran” (2008) has won great craze for TV soaps. Serials like ‘Na Aana Is Des admiration from several quarters for her character’s Laado’(2009), Balika Vadhu’ (2008), ‘Diya aur Baati sense of fashion and dressing. Hum’(2011), ‘Parvarish’(2011), ‘Amrit Manthan’ (2012), ‘Jee le Zara’ (2013) came to limelight as the To many young women in India, TV soaps represent trend again seems to shift to soaps that can provide a communication medium that can influence positive both entertainment and social messages. These change. Soap operas impart traditional values that serials emphasize on parent-child relationship and do not threaten the Indian culture and minimise the social problems that prevail in society. These soaps excessive proliferation of western influence. From talk about issues such as child marriage, death, the preliminary analysis in the present research study, marriage, divorce, romance, friendship and the role it is estimated that influence of screen lifestyle, of the female protagonist in her marital home. These glamour and fashion is visible more on housewives ‘social realistic conventions’ lure as well as keep the than on working women. More number of working viewers engrossed. women reject the idea of adapting the fictional lifestyle into their personal lives; however, some of From the on-going research, it was observed it is them were definitely influenced by fashion in terms not only melodrama or a social message that drives of clothing projected in selected serials. Through the attention of the audience. The glamour, traditions, on-going study on television serials and their effects culture, rituals, fashion and the lifestyle of women on women it is observed that popular culture as depicted on screen also influences women to a larger reflected in these soap operas has made a space in extent. The clothing, style and fashion of protagonists the heart and house of women in Vadodara – for some and vamps capture an influential demand in the are largely influenced by cultural ethos depicted in market. Talking about the fashion in trend ‘Sarees’ popular serials whereas some remain immune to the create a rage among women, especially among young same. women and girls. Eg: ‘Akshara Suits’ featured in ‘Yeh

References :

Ahmed, D. A. (2012). Women and soap-operas: Popularity, portrayal and perception. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 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

14 Mobile Phones and Gender: A Technological Bridge Chhavi Garg Senior Research Fellow (UGC-SRF) School of Communication Studies Panjab University, Chandigarh [email protected]

Gender has always been a distinguishing factor in a society. And media is no different from it. Gender and media 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 technology and 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 defined as mobile phones and internet. In fact, the two have been integrated on mobile phones (now being called smart phones) as internet can easily be accessed on them. “Technology has usually been positive towards men” (Malhotra et al, 2012). But mobile phone seems to be a technology that is bridging the gap between two genders in society whether it is in terms of economic independence, safety, social interaction, playing multiple roles or of ownership.

Mobile phones have helped women in becoming economically independent. They have enabled women to start 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 and customers without constraints of time and distance. They have become independent as voiced by Jasuben Malek, a member of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Gujarat, India, “I used to wonder about this machine called a mobile phone, but once I began to use it, I realized its many advantages. I can immediately call the wholesale market to inquire about prices and place direct orders. I have eliminated the middleman. I am now recognized as a businesswoman, growing and selling sesame seeds and not just as somebody’s wife or sister” (Women & Mobile,11, 2013). Many women are also able to operate from their homes through mobile phones as they take orders for their business on mobile phones and get goods delivered through agents. Working from their home, they are able to look after families as well earn their livelihood. Not only in businesses but also in the service sector, women are able to play their roles in their families in an efficient 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 also suggests that one of the main purposes of owning a mobile phone is for safety and security among women. In terms of ownership, mobile phones seem to have been owned by quite a number of women as compared to other technologies till date. For instance, landline telephones are usually in the name of head of the house and in patriarchal societies, it is usually the male member of the family. Landline telephone is not a personal medium like a mobile phone. Moreover, mobile phones have helped women to connect to the larger social networking groups and forums. Though mobile phones are a boon to women, but since technology can also be a bane, the case of mobile phones is no different. Stalking, harassment, unwanted calls are some of the irritants that this technology has brought about. However, mobile phones are a potent technology for furthering the ambit of women’s freedom and development.

15 References :

Malhotra, A. Kanesathasan, A. & Patel, P. (2012). Connectivity: How mobile phones, computers and the internet can catalyze women’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 Understanding Gender and Media: A Novice Perspective Kandarp Talati Public Health Researcher Foundation for Diffusion of Innovations Ahmedabad [email protected]

As a beginner, the first thing was to understand what much appreciative of stereotypical framing of gender is meant by gender and media. Whether Arnab roles. Goswami, Barkha Dutt, Deepak Chaurasia, Shereen Bhan, Shoma Chaudhury and Tarun Tejpal denote No more Gender Bias – Are we prepared? “gender”; and Times Now, NDTV, India News, We are responsible, at least in parts, if not completely CNBC-TV18 and Tehelka signify “media”? In the in this contentious and debatable issue of gender and Indian context, journalists, their gender and media media. While many of us are well acquainted in professionals well define “gender and media”, as it tweeting and posting comments on popular social is all about providers’ perspective and community media platforms like Twitter and Facebook in perspective rarely matters – at large. However, this response to ongoing news telecast or live debates, is only a part of what gender in context of media not many of us are as much sensitive towards gender denotes. To understand the term with some more issues and prepared to collectively resist what could clarity, I turned to Google, with the key search term be considered as a societal evil. – Gender and Media. Most of the top searches revealed gender and media as related to women The Answer empowerment and gender equality in and through media. Some articles also blamed media for under Technology platforms that fueled India Against representing women and stereotypical framing of the Corruption (IAC) movement as well as the male and female gender. nationwide protest after Nirbhaya’s rape incident; could certainly be utilized by all the well-wishers of The Confusion gender issues to make their concerns heard and spread awareness among community members. Such How can we blame media for content bias and gender platforms have certainly redefined the presence of inequity, when it is showing pretty ‘perfect masala’ modern day media and social media can be a game content that the larger audience wants to view. Even changer if utilized as a crowd-sourced media1. if the media attempts to portray something different, audience tends to criticize it since the content may Media is bound to reflect our voices if we could make not suit their expectations. As audiences, we are #gender and media trending on popular social media almost used to a certain kind of media content and platforms. Under this hash tag we can report crime, the socialization process that we undergo plays a 1 Crowd-sourced media could be a dedicated page on Facebook, major role in determining our expectations from the # on Twitter or a social media website where people around media. May be it is we (the audience) who wish to the globe could act as citizen journalists and report the happenings around them under dedicated categories or all see gender inequity in media coverage, and are pretty under one page.

16 domestic and sexual violence; gender discrimination India ranks No.2 with 52 percent smartphone in societies and at workplaces with regards to rights subscriber growth and No.5 among the top countries for equal opportunities and access to expression and for smartphone users with 67 million smartphone decision-making; policies favoring gender equity; subscribers in 20132. However, it has also been strategies to mute opposition from conservative sub- revealed that half of the smartphone users are not groups; and support required at local level to promote using mobile internet; and among those having community engagement and gender sensitivity. This access to mobile internet are increasingly accessing could be done with special emphasis on certain online apps and browsing has significantly declined. categories of vulnerable populations, such as As far social media engagement is concerned, e- children, adolescents, women, poor, elderly, or those Marketer’s latest forecast revealed that India is likely belonging to ethnic minorities and indigenous to report 37.4 percent year over year growth in 2013 groups. with regards to social networker numbers, as compared to 14.2 percent global average. Moreover Global Forum on Media and Gender is one such India is also expected to become the country with representative platform that aims to promote the largest Facebook population in the world by citizens’- media dialogue on gender equality through 20163. formation of a Global Alliance for Media and Gender. Nordic Gender & Media Forum is another regional Towards Change forum that facilitates discussion about gender While these figures might be astounding, one must equality in the media and is financed by the Nordic remember the other side of the coin. Social network Council of Ministers. user penetration is limited to less than 8 percent of The Power of Technology: Some Astonishing the Indian population and the penetration of smartphones is just about 6 percent as a percentage Facts of total mobile users in India. Internet penetration is There is a reason behind advocating effective also limited to just over 11 percent of the total utilization of social media platforms and that ranges population4. So next time when we use the internet from high penetration of smartphones and mobile or social media to raise our voice for any issue of internet among Indian youth as well as higher social societal concern, including gender issues in the media engagement. Smartphone penetration among media, we must not forget to lend our voice and 16-18 years age group has significantly increased access to technology to support those whose voices from 5 percent in 2012 to 22 percent in 20131. and experiences are absent from mainstream media discourse.

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/

17 One Step Forward and Two Steps Back Khushboo H. Balani Research Intern Department of Economics, Monk Prayogshala, Mumbai [email protected]

Almost a century has elapsed since the inception of up being collateral damage. For instance, Agent Indian cinema; however, the status of women Vinod (2012) and Hero-Love story of a spy (2003). continues to remain elusive. We have traversed a long Surprisingly Ek Tha Tiger (2012) is more optimistic path in virtually every aspect of filmmaking and the about their fate. journey has been linear for almost everything. Perhaps the statement which best summarizes the The female desire today is receiving more debate surrounding the status of women is, “things recognition and respect, even though male have changed...” The ellipsis will be filled depending chauvinism continues. While Aiyya (2012) sounded on which end of the spectrum one belongs. From like a mockery of the female desire, Ishqiya (2010) where I see, Indian cinema, when it comes to the and Ramleela (2013) were more balanced in their representation of woman, is “regressively approach, though in the latter, the male protagonist progressive”, or “progressively regressive”. Almost hogged the limelight. This year’s release B.A. Pass every genre in mainstream cinema has reflected a (2013) on the other hand is a very unapologetic change in the underlying dynamics for women. There presentation of female passion. Adultery also has been a change in the way a woman’s role is being continues to be the domain of men in Indian cinema approached, but the changes are generally more akin and even today they are graciously pardoned by their to the phrase mentioned above. loving wives. The wives take the detour of dating another guy for the sole motive of bringing their While on one hand, the quintessential liberated urban philandering husbands back on the “right” track; for woman is being celebrated, on the other hand, she instance, Thank U (2011), Shaadi No.1 (2005), Masti ultimately has to either modify her modernity to (2004) and Grand Masti (2013). Strangely, Karan conveniently suit the tradition or face ostracism. A Johar’s hotch-potch Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006) movie like Cocktail(2012) simultaneously applauds is more gender equal with respect to adultery! And the liberated female (Deepika Padukone as surprisingly, they gross a huge amount. Case in point, Veronica), who chooses to stay true to the flavour of Grand Masti is a part of the hundred crore club. the land she has inhabited, and also lays bare the Astitiva (2000) and Arth (1982) prove to be double standards, whereby the liberated woman is exceptions to the rule by examining the underlying ultimately rejected for the girl (Diana Penty as complexities of the phenomenon. In fact, Meera) who stays close to her roots across shores! interestingly, the female protagonist played by The archetypal masala movies make us wonder Shabana Azmi in Arth, takes the bolder step of whether there’s always something worse coming up. turning the tables on her husband and leaves him for While today women are offered more screen space good. And the 21st century woman, the so-called in these misogynistic movies [Sonakshi Sinha in “educated, liberated, independent” woman believes Rowdy Rathore (2012), Dabangg (2010) and that her adherence to traditional belief triumphs her R...Rajkumar (2013)], they continue to be portrayed self-respect. as cardboard characters, and reinforce the myths of damsel in distress and femme fatale. The spy movies In contrast, women centric movies seem to be a apparently have improved the status of women, by mixed bag. While Kahaani (2012), The Dirty Picture allotting them equal roles as spy or assistant, an (2011), Fashion (2008) and Heroine (2012) celebrate improvement over their sheer objectification in the the unabashed liberated woman, these women past; but many of these female characters just end reinforce stereotypes rather than breaking free from

18 their clutches. Movies like English Vinglish (2012) explored in non-stereotypical ways [Shirin Farhad and That Girl in Yellow Boots (2011) on the other Ki Toh Nikal Padi (2012), Baghban (2003) and The hand, propagate the belief that the problem is too Lunchbox (2013)]. And perhaps, it is ultimately this complex to provide any simple answers. However, genre that is going to redeem Bollywood. The there is some ray of optimism with respect to the problem thus, with Indian cinema is that it is genre of romance, which while predominantly straddling between tradition and modernity. With the heterosexual in its approach, is indeed exploring new wave of feminism and globalisation, gender various dimensions. Here, women have a greater say dynamics have changed at the home and the in relationships [Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012)]; age workplace. What we are witnessing today is a tug of differences in courtship are being explored in both war between the reformist zeal and the status quo ways [Cheeni Kum (2007), Wake Up Sid (2009), Dil conformists, and who shall win the battle shall Chahta Hai (2001)]; single motherhood is respected ultimately be determined by the viewers. (Paa (2009)); and romance in old age is being

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 Student Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda [email protected]

Objectification is known to be those portrayals of calendars, pictures, movies, magazines and so on. women in ways and contexts which suggest that Most of these portrayals are not those of women women are objects to be looked at, ogled, even scientists, writers and thinkers but those of young touched, or used. From ancient scriptures, to a stylish models pictured to sell products, attract modern day Delhi gang rape victim, there are attention and please the audience. They fail to portray countless examples of how women are a representative range of women’s real skills and commoditized. Perhaps to be purchased, perhaps occupations, particularly in positions of authority or taken – and once tired of, even discarded, often to even fail to reflect the increasing diversity and be replaced by a newer, younger edition; certainly richness of women’s lives, or their range of not treated as human beings with equal rights and contributions and achievements. There is a tendency needs. This co modification is glorified in for women to be shown: as secondary to men, as mainstream media whether it is in advertising, pretty objects, or as appealing sex objects.

19 Mainstream Cinema whether in Hindi or Regional up making a mark for the film, such as ‘Munni’ from languages is rich in producing films of various genres Dabangg (2010), ‘Chikni Chameli’ of Agneepath and is considered to be an important part of popular (2012) or ‘Fevicol’ of Dabangg 2 (2012). culture that represents India on the international front. But still ‘Bollywood’ (Hindi Film Industry) is The question of objectifying the woman is not new. a male dominated industry. Nowadays women are But is the objectification forced on her or does she portrayed as an object or a toy of the Hero’s antics embody it herself? The question is who is to blame? or to celebrate his success or dream. Whenever a However, the simple reason for deliberation on the woman is shown, she is shown satisfying men’s issue is where do women want to see themselves in desires and is portrayed as an instrument for society? Is it the society that decides her place or producing and rearing children. The Indian movie does the media merely reflect her place in the industry is known for its glitterati and songs. ‘Item society? While observing the social scenario it needs songs’ evoke varied emotions among film buffs and to be ascertained whether this kind of objectivity is viewers. From ‘Choli ke peeche kya Hae’- desired by women to get attention and fame in society (Khalnayak-1993) to latest ‘Chipka le saiyan Fevicol or is it imposed on her by the society? It is often se’ (Dabbang 2- 2012), lyrics, these item numbers seen that women are misrepresented in media, but portray women as objects. Surely this is an example who is to blame? Is it always the conservative society of creativity, but a song and dance sequence showing or is it a ‘Free Woman’ who is allowing her to be a woman being stalked and wooed by a bunch of treated as an object? At times the women’s men is ironical. Is this what we call popular willingness is also present. In the present Indian entertainment? These songs with derogatory cultural scenario a woman would not usually perform portrayal of women and sexual overtones are often a ‘Munni Badnaam’ in front of her family so inserted in movie plots for no reason at all. gallantly. Popular culture may not be entirely blamed for the objectification of women as it may be their Shabana Azmi in one of her interviews observed “The choice to some extent. This is though a very director showed me a script about a woman who was contentious issue and calls for more debate. It seems an ugly duckling — she was dark-complexioned. She that the objectification of women in most movies is forcibly married to this guy, but he leaves her for a has stemmed from society’s constant judgment of light-skinned woman. Then the ugly duckling is women’s features, and not from their intelligence adopted by the light-skinned woman. In the end, both and leadership. women fall at the feet of the man. The director was giving me the part of the ugly duckling. I said, of Although media does not portray everything in an course, I will not do the film.” imaginary and fanciful style, it takes inspiration from societal and cultural environment. However, media’s Women in Indian cinema are born with certain only end should not be entertainment. It must begin assumptions ranging from cult movies to celluloid to realize its role that can propel social change. When blockbusters like Sholay (1975) to the popular it comes to women and her position in society, the Fashion (2008) are rooted in gender bias. Women media should be little conscious about what it is are portrayed either as damsels in distress or depicting as that might impact her socio-political demented feminists or simple belly shaking glam position in the long run. When it is by her will she is dolls whose sole ambition is to attract the attention not an object, but when it is forced upon her against of the male gender. In many Indian films it is a her will she is being exploited. If the will is not free, common trend to insert ‘item numbers’ which bear i.e. when women are consenting under pressure then no rational connection to the film in anyway, with yes, they may be as powerful but are still remain an an aim to woo the masses. Sometimes one song ends object of patriarchal dominance.

20 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 in Calendar 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/

Violence against Women and the Role of Media Parvin Sultana PhD Research Scholar Centre for Political Studies School for Social Sciences Jawarharlal Nehru University, New Delhi [email protected]

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 of paid news, media often become agents of propaganda. With electronic media entering the scene, our living rooms are flooded with 24 hours entertainment and news channels. Nothing escapes the gaze of media. While electronic media is a manifestation of the fact that we are living in the information society, there are some pertinent concerns a viewer needs to raise. With regard to news channels, the first concern must be whether print and electronic media is able to manage the required standards that are set for good journalism. How do media report on sensitive issues like sexual violence against women, child sexual abuse? Over a period of time the competition of TRPs (Television Rating Points) paved the way for unnecessary sensitization of news. The line between real news and scripted dramatic serials has become blurred. People became mere stories. While print media tried to maintain the code of conduct, electronic media often overstepped its domain. A number of incidents made one rethink where to draw the line between journalistic ethics and sheer sensationalism. While covering the Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case of 2008, news channels showed lewd animated pictures of the 14 year old girl along with the other victim in indecent postures. This is not an isolated incident. When a tragic incident of a video doing rounds in one of India’s premier educational institution took place, media continued to be insensitive. Along with the students involved, media continued harassing the other students by constantly intruding their academic space. Fingers were also pointed at students coming from particular states of the country. The same media was lukewarm towards the institution’s struggle for getting their democratic elections back. Another shocking incident was a young girl being molested on a busy highway in Guwahati by a number of miscreants in June, 2012 and this was being shown through live telecast by a local private news channel. While a young girl was being pushed and pulled in every direction, the news channel was basking in the glory of

21 being able to provide a live telecast. What happened to the journalist’s duty as a concerned human being to intervene 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 behaviour was witnessed during the December, 2012 gang rape case in Delhi where news channels as well as some newspapers were more obsessed with the identity of the victim and her relationship with her male companion as opposed to the crime. In another recent incident, when a girl was attacked by her class mate in a premiere university, while the entire country expressed shock and concern, a leading Hindi newspaper Dainik Bhaskar was more caught up in discovering the nuances of the relationship between the girl and the boy. Instead of initiating a debate on the need to rethink romantic relationships, the paper indulged in character assassination of the girl who was fighting for her life. Compelled by the demand of market, this newspaper seemed untouched by the ongoing debates 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 in Mumbai. In case of criminal assault on women, media is expected to maintain a level of secrecy. This is to save survivors of such assault from further harassment. In this case while some newspapers initially gave out details regarding the woman’s workplace, they immediately removed it. But a leading daily like The Times of India sent its reporter to the building where the woman lived to give an exclusive report on the reaction of her neighbours and friends. It also gave details about the way this heinous crime was perpetrated. Other papers like the Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Hindu only provided details given by the hospital. This is a gross 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 is also commercialised and gendered. Even news items are dovetailed for a dominantly male audience. News business is rapidly driven by hard news. Entrusted with the crucial responsibility of keeping people well informed on the kind of atrocities happening around the country, journalists of both print and electronic media need to be extra careful. Any talk of the role of media cannot bypass a discussion on movies and TV serials which are an important source of entertainment. With increasing number of cases of violence against women, social scientists, and psychologists tried to understand if there is any relationship between representation of women in media and increasing violence on them. While there may not be any direct causal relationship, people who are exposed to a 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, in constant need of protection of a male or as cunning and calculative. Family and politics at home seem to be central to these women’s existence. Very few TV serials or movies take up issues that a working woman faces in her life. How we see a woman and her relationships on the TV screen is crucial in Indian society. In a conservative 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 true love, women are denied agency even in such an intimate relationship. It is only when popular culture questions these deep rooted biases; women will be able to deal with society on an equal footing as men.

22 Gender Disguise in the Indian Entertainment Industry: Cross-Dressing Pooja Gala Research Intern Department of Psychology Monk Prayogshala Mumbai [email protected]

Sandra Bem had emphasized that the only factor that world, restrictions imposed on a man’s dressing are makes someone or something male or female is their very apparent. Thus, with a shift from real to reel, genitalia. Thus, a toy truck, a task, profession or an there are changes in gender-reversal in the area of outfit cannot be either “male” or “female”. Earlier, “unacceptability”. Cross-dressing in the Indian when women were not allowed to act, men would entertainment industry has been prevalent since more cross-dress as women. In the first motion picture, than ten decades and has been a subject of mass Raja Harishchandra, (1913) the female lead of appeal. Since a man dressing as a woman is Taramati, Harischandra’s wife, was played by male considered to be so unusual, in the contemporary actors Anna Salunkhe and Phalke’s son entertainment world it has been highly celebrated. Bhalachandra. Since acting was considered to be taboo, men dressed up as women. However, the The role of Kamal Hassan as Chachi, in Chachi 420, rationale underlying this was merely convenience (1997) used stereotypes to make an impact, because and to have female representatives as counterparts. as a male, Hassan could have never achieved what he wanted; that is, his wife and daughter. Chachi’s Cross-dressing in the real world is an attribute of persuasion for Amrish Puri’s character works the transgender community, who has emerged to marvelously well but Hassan’s persuasion would claim themselves as independent identities not bound have drastically failed. Being disguised as a woman by rigid gender stereotypes. Cross-dressing in Indian has repeatedly been used to evoke sympathy from society is an attempt by men to wear clothes and other men. Women have been viewed as soft targets other accessories commonly associated with women who use their so-called gentle prowess to have their in Indian culture. The purposes for which it has been way with the dominating male community. In some used in media involve disguise, comfort, and most movies (like Ritesh Deshmukh’s character in Apna importantly to generate humour. The idea of cross- Sapna Money Money (2006) males disguised as dressing has by and large been ridiculed in the females are used merely as distractions to hinder entertainment world and hardly any attempts have other male characters from achieving their goals. been made to project cross-dressers as entities They portray features that could be associated with independent from cultural stereotypes. It may be easy femme fatale – a mysterious and seductive woman to accept a woman dressing as a man with attire such whose charms entrap her lovers in bonds of as a trouser and a shirt. In fact, this is the dress code irresistible desire, often leading them into of many women working in the corporate sector. A compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. woman in stereotypical male clothing is hardly ever This portrayal of a woman as a distraction is found out to be unique or striking. A similar situation contradictory to the oft-quoted saying that “Behind when emulated by a man perhaps becomes the most every successful man is a woman.” Thus, what salient aspect of his appearance and creates emerges is perhaps the biggest drawback of cross- perceptions that are difficult to rule out. It is ironical dressing – sexualization of women. Importantly, to see how women in the real world have restrictions when a man cross-dresses, it suddenly makes him imposed on them in various arenas. But in the reel very desirable to other men in the drama. This

23 probably establishes the idea that beauty is couples are allowed to live. She is shown as a essentially the prerogative of women and when cross- beautiful lady who is very intelligent and can solve dressed, even ugly men become highly coveted. This almost any home-making problem. However, the has been very well exemplified in the movie Aunty intelligence is that of a man who can skillfully No. 1 (1998) where Govinda as a woman, wins the combat relational issues but is only acknowledged affection of three men ready to woo “her” in every in form of a housewife who is stereotypically very way possible. high on interpersonal intelligence. In most comedy shows, when male characters dress up as women, The role of Dadi in Comedy Nights with Kapil they present themselves with some dramatic exemplifies the rather unusual character of an differences, such as unwaxed legs, very wide hips alcoholic and seductive Indian Dadi who has or large busts. Such appearances only reinforce the extraordinary power and strength, showcasing her stereotypical notions of beauty in our culture. Also, masculine prowess and desperate to woo the male the attire of a woman in revealing clothes is used celebrities participating in the show. Since it is a male mainly to titillate the opposite sex. Disguised humor (disguised as a woman) seducing men, the effect of is used as an instrument to assert the notion of beauty seduction is toned down to the element of humour. without brains. It is really fascinating to see how At the same time, we could say that the character of cross-dressing has evolved in the Indian Dadi is both progressive and regressive. Her humour entertainment industry. What started off merely as makes the notion of an alcoholic woman acceptable. an availability phenomenon, has gradually taken the She is able to break the shackles and stereotypes form of sexualization of women. Femininity has associated with a woman only because she, become associated with a “safety escape” from biologically, is not a woman. Cross-dressing has danger as people are generally less suspicious of often been used an escape mechanism to women committing higher order crimes; cross- surreptitiously enter into male-prohibited areas. They dressing is more of a safety valve. Thus femininity disguise primarily to achieve what they could not is mainly “performed” under many such stereotypical have achieved as a male. In a television series called facades reinforcing negative stereotypes of Mrs. Pammi Pyareyal, the protagonist cross-dressers womanhood in Indian culture. to get accommodation into a home where only

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

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.

24 Moving Towards new AGENDA for GENDER: Spaces for Discourse Rahul V. Mane Research Associate Communications Division Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA), Ahmedabad [email protected]

Woman is not born, she is made! – Simone de Beauvoir By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower. – Tagore In a recent premiere concluded at MICA, Ahmedabad women, two finger tests, sexual harassment at of yet to be released ‘Lakshmi’—a brave panoramic- workplace, sexual harassment in live in realistic production by Nagesh Kukunoor – the relationships, harassment in marital relationship, audience witnessed engaging discussions about the concept of sexual advancement. spectrum of widespread complexity and gravity of women trafficking, sex-trade and prostitution. This Considering the obscurantist nature of patriarchal interaction related to sexuality, gender and thus and conservative society in which we live, where contemporary debates about equality-equity provided political parties, established institutions of family, a leap of imagination to visualize how gender issues religion and law are busy forwarding their own are being debated in public life in India. During the agendas and competing interests, Kukunoor‘s non- interactions, one of the participants asked why Nagesh obvious answer had many layers to it. On one part, did not address the issues of homosexuality, sexual he was underscoring the vastness of the problem atrocities against males, transgenders constituting portrayed in ‘Lakshmi’ and on the other hand he larger community of LGBTQs. In his reply, the director was expressing his sensitivity with regard to gender said that our evolving understanding has uncovered issues. This kind of ‘brave balancing act’ is a part how deeply sensitive all these issues are from the of new India that is unabashedly open, unafraid of purview of human rights. At the same time we should any intellectual venture about ‘divergences from realize the kind of impact crude exploitation of women, routine, asserting that being different is not weird’. trafficking and sex trade has on gender issues. I use Without going into the nature of radical and this frame of reference sketched by Kukunoor to open conservative arguments expressed recently about up space for the argument which I wish to develop in gender debates and its possible crystallization into this article. political correctness vs. legal-ethical legitimacy, one can observe the precise nuances through which The year 2013 has been historic in a sense, it created ‘gender debate’ in India is emerging. In the context huge public/civil movements aimed at creating not only of this cautionary realization and amidst the awareness about gender issues but also forcing competitive world where every activist is jumping executive, legislature and judiciary to move towards to speak for marginalized groups, it is easy to get humanitarian legislations, enforcement through new carried away and thus shout for everyone‘s mechanisms/agencies and also through required neglected rights. Rhetoric about gender issues is amendments in legal structures. It started with an changing at a faster pace. Indian society has not uproar on the Delhi gang rape, what came to be known given a thought to creating informal forums and as the ‘Nirbhaya’ case. Thereafter, many such cases social infrastructure anticipating the huge deficit happened and were reported. However, the kind of in human rights of the marginalized, in this case outrage and public mobilization the Nirbhaya case gender marginalized groups. witnessed was unparalled in Indian history. This single incident threw wide open uncontested terrain of legal/ As a society of family values, of ‘traditional’ moral definitions related to many age-old concepts culture, strong religious affiliations decorated by starting from juvenile age, age of consensual sex, customary and newly invented rituals penetrated criminal investigation related to crimes against by market products; we need to ponder how we should educate, create consciousness and create a

25 new language to understand the LGBTQ`s concerns. procedures, mechanisms should be improved upon. Sudden media out surge to herald LGBT rights after Very few focused upon how interventions in cultural- Delhi High Court`s verdict (which decriminalized social space can create possibilities to alter gender homo-sexuality) and equally emotional outrageous sensitivity. It will be worthwhile to look into the anger aroused after Supreme Court`s decision which distribution, thematic diffusion and discourses spread overturned the lower court`s decision are over the media landscape in India in recent years. contributing in creation of simplistic, binary That is a further matter of extending the normative interpretations about LGBTQ issues. Western arguments in this article towards analyzing empirical discourses around freedom and equality are driven cases. This claim needs to be substantiated by content in the context of historical evolution of the notion analysis and discourse analysis in media. My of individuality which was shaped by industriali- reflections are based on exposure to recent media zation, modernization, mechanization, capitalism and content, in text, audio, video, digital platforms. democratization. In India, beyond the fact that women were given voting rights immediately after To complete that successfully, one needs to verify the independence, there were very few efforts on the part deeply consolidated and diversely-thinly spread of the state and society to award rights in dignified nuances of gender debates and that can happen only way to women specifically and to marginalized when one goes to discuss individual stories which genders at large. ultimately contribute to political initiatives about Larger Affirmative Action Agenda for Gender Historical reasons exist due to which we can realize (LAAAG). This is becoming complex because modes that the Indian population is always unevenly divided of protests, questioning and dissent are changing. into polarised protestors and supporters of the Questions like the following should be raised: progressive or regressive legislations/policies. The reasons for thus can be traced as - huge lacuna of • Is the changing nature, form and content of information, ‘convenient unwillingness’ (rational movements that gives expression to discontent ignorance) to challenge non-consciousness and a being reflected in media discourses? What are vacuum of social infrastructure to engage with the its evidences? plight of many marginalized groups, diffusion of • What are the patterns of these discourses? knowledge and circulation of meanings in our society (Outrage, political protests, satire and laughter, has always been driven by feudal forces and huge fight for rights, community mobilization, disparity of class, language, regionalism on one side advocacy, civilian unrest, and media induced or and identity, association and representation on the spin doctored shows) other. The basic premise of this article is that Genders’ are Media‘s stance about issues of gender equality not merely different sexualities associated with their reflected in the legacy of public discourse inherited peculiar vulnerabilities isolated from communities by instrumental cases is largely shaped by erstwhile surrounding them. They are structurally situated and influential groups in Indian society and politics at shaped by their geographies, their degree of sub- large. Largely, the Indian media did not take a alternalities (originally explained by Gayatri Spivac), radically libertarian stance regarding launching an their socio-cultural conditions, individual stories, initial step about discovering layers of attributes personal narratives, community customs and about gender sensitivities. But times are changing. national-regional political situations; Gender debates It is only after the media landscape opened up to in India fundamentally need to be framed in the global influence through rapid convergence in contexts discussed above. Unfortunately, media technology, finance and production infrastructure, debates, do not always help arrive to nuances of life- competition within rival satellite channels, histories and genealogies of problems related to intensification of civil society movements and its different genders but they certainly expose us to more linkage to social networking sites, these anguished and more ‘realities’ which we were previously responses were taken seriously – mostly because it ignorant of; enough to compel our minds and socio- created the possibility of questioning and challenging political-religious institutions to take a relook at the credibility of existing institutions. Media debates whole concept of gender. surrounded focused on how law, institutions,

26 References :

Jain, D. & Kimberely, R. Comparison of the Legal Rights of Gender Non-Conforming Persons in South Asia. Economic and Political Weekly, 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). Retrieved from 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

BOOK REVIEW

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

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

Media has always played a vital and dynamic role in ‘women element’ has Indian society from the colonial to the post- always been liberalized and modernized era. Newspapers which marginalized in the were the most significant medium during our media firstly due to the independence struggle encouraged values such as patriarchal system equality, justice and political consciousness among prevalent in society and people. The call for fair, just and responsible secondly due to the journalism witnessed an era of sensibility in the media’s subtle media industry. Journalism during the independence adherence to this system. struggle was driven by a cause, unlike the factors With the advent of that drive it today – commercial and business modernization and motives. Gradually new inventions and technologies globalization newspapers, films, televisions adopted started proliferating with modern techniques. a contemporary approach with women playing an However, at the same time Indian culture also important role. Though, the media failed to take into strengthened and became a more vibrant and consideration the ‘other sex’ into positive frame dynamic entity. The dichotomy between culture and keeping in mind the traditional orientation of Indian modern technologies left the Indian media in a society, commercialization, sensationalism and trivia dilemma - a difficult one to cope with. contributed to further downfall in women’s portrayal. What sells has to be covered as media is after all a Media, Gender and Popular Culture in India business and it too keeps profit margins. One of the elucidates the struggle faced by Indian media prominent arguments in the book is “In the changing between modernization and traditional society in a world and India people no longer preoccupy diverse and heterogeneous social context. The book themselves with the question ‘why should media do centers on the multi-dimensional aspects of socio- business?’ rather the question that occupies their cultural diversities prevailing in the Indian society mind is “to what extent the media should indulge with distorted images of women. With the economic into business?”(pp-184). reforms in 1990’s, the increase in competition led media to change its facets in society and adopt a The book excellently encapsulates the portrayal of more modern and commercial approach. The women in films, advertisements and print by

27 highlighting various relevant examples. The Indian in higher salary structures than their male partners film industry witnessed the era of Helen as well as or husbands are elided or seem to govern a Mallika Sherawat and several controversies emerged systematic low representation, that is programmed over it. The book depicts such a dilemmatic era of to seem as if these roles are anti-normative and not India where popular culture drew large audiences serious” (pp-110). Many Women based magazines and technology was continuously advancing. In a report issues concerning upper-middle class women way one can say that even though socio-economic and also provide a platform for women to discuss reforms took place more than two decades ago, the very intricate details of their lives. However, these Indian culture and its followers struggled hard to magazines and other media forums are niche and do adapt to changing times. Shifting the attention to not cater to women who are economically deprived market economy, advertisements have had the two and live in a setting different than the urban and extremes in representing women. First is in the middle class. ‘Bhartiya Naari avtaar’ where her responsibilities The book brings forth realities from the world of are more of a house-wife and mother taking care of media and gender. However, the focus is a bit her family or she is shown worried and concerned lopsided towards historical aspects on the theme. about her skin problems as she has to go and meet This takes readers back to history which might the love of her life - again depicting that only prevent them from coming back and connect to the beautiful girls can get love in life. Secondly, she is central point in the work. Some examples are western depicted in a seductive manner appealing for the sale which are relevant and worthy of mention but since of the product, which is currently a trend in perfumes’ the book is in the Indian context, it would have been and body sprays’ advertisements. The stereotypical better if more Indian illustrations were highlighted. avtaars of women, in sarees or in western erotic dresses, have always fascinated and attracted many Media has a bigger part to play in society where it consumers. The authors critically comment about the can educate and sensitize people with regard to acceptance of such cultures in Indian society and in politico-socio-cultural aspects. Rightly said by the all forms of media. authors in this book that “Indian Media is in the transition of change”; the transition where media is Television soap operas too corroborate a similar still in dilemma whether to continue with argument of women being presented in not-so- modernization, which is need of the hour in the serious kinds of roles. The authors observe that “In present globalized world or to remain tradition- such a discourse, what emerges very interestingly is centric. that techno viability erases boundaries in terms of geography or target consumers, but the media This book is a substantive work on how media images that are constructed seem to have a shared portrays women in a culture-laden Indian society. agenda in consolidating traditional paradigms and Many interesting examples have been highlighted de-recognizing the changes that are taking place in depicting the other side of the picture. A must read the contemporary scenario. That is, life style for followers of media and cultural studies, changes, increase in professional women, researchers and students to recognize the real multitasking women, shared household work, women scenario of ‘India Then’ and ‘India Now’. Contents :

1. Introduction: Media and Mediations – Representing Change and Continuity in Indian Popular Culture and Gender 2. Indian Media in Transition: Recent Past and Present 3. Filming Change, Securing Tradition: A Hobson’s Choice or a Dynamic Duality 4. Television Images: Images and Imaginary 5. Advertising: Encoding Seduction 6. Print Media and Popular Culture: Agents with a Difference Reviewed By 7. Conclusion: Media Responsibility – The Winding Road Ahead Nalanda Tambe [email protected]

28 Representation of Women in News Media: A Survey by Media Studies Group Media Studies Group New Delhi [email protected]

“In such a rapidly changing environment, women Media Studies Group was not given information by in media have a large responsibility in not only Central public information officers. changing attitude towards women but also shaping public opinion. With women holding responsible The study is based on data and information received position in newspapers or electronic media, their from 255 districts of 28 states. Total number of competency should extend to a wider area and a districts surveyed represents for 40% of the total range of issues. More importantly, a woman districts. Media Studies Group received data and journalist is expected to show more sensitivity to information on 14,278 accredited journalists, issues relating to women and to more meaningful reporters and editors from 255 districts in reference insights and perspectives.1 - Justice G. N. Ray to social background of media persons working at the district level. This is the first in a series of surveys Whenever Women Reservation Bill is discussed in by Media Studies Group about the social background the Parliament there is a high decibel debate in media of media persons working at an all India level. on empowerment and representation of women in high institutions but an inside look shows that The Growth Trajectory: Growth figures and situation of women in the Indian media is far worse estimates show that media has expanded rapidly at than the institutions it dissects. district level as well. Many of the popular dailies The nationwide massive study undertaken on claim that their editions have reached in three digits.2 representation of women in media by Media Studies Figures show that Indian media and entertainment Group reveals shocking outcomes of gender industry recorded a growth rate of 12% in 2011 and disproportion. The study reveals a token the total size of the industry grew up to Rs.72,800 representation of female journalists as low as 2.7 crore. In terms of revenue generation industry is percent. There are six states and two union territories estimated to achieve a growth rate of 13 per cent in which have zero percent of women media 2012. Reports suggest the rate of expansion will professionals at the district level while Andhra accelerate till 2016 and following this trajectory by Pradesh tops the list with 107 women journalists at which that time the industry will be worth Rs districts. 1,45,700 crore. This translates into a compounded average growth rate (CAGR) of 15 per cent over the This survey is to estimate the participation of female journalists at district level in Indian Media in next five years. Television continues to be the reference to the overall expansion of media in India. dominant medium in terms of getting the slice of overall cake while print media which is on the slide The Methodology: Media Studies Group used the in growth rate will still continue to be the second Right to Information Act (2005) for the source of largest medium in the Indian M&E industry. Radio the information. The exercise was launched to collect is expected to grow at 21 per cent yearly.3 According data on journalists, reporters and editors working at to Prof. Robin Jeffrey, a leading authority on media the district level from more than 600 districts of affairs there are good prospects of growth of media India. It took more than a year in making appeals and especially print media would grow at a good and collecting information from those districts where rate in the next 15 years.4

29 Gross Gender Imbalance: Outcomes of the survey exact number of female and male journalists. provides important inputs particularly in reference Because of absence of complete data 2099 to social structure of the Indian society and media. correspondents, reporters and editors were excluded The study reveals the fact that there are on average from this study. 2.7% of female journalists working at district level. The number of total accredited female journalists at Since the study was targeted at the district level district level is 329 against the male counterparts of accredited journalists at the state capitals were also 11,850. not counted. Similarly journalists who are accredited with central government and working at National As per the findings of the survey it is found that at Capital Territory of Delhi were also excluded from least 6 states and 2 union territories have zero percent the survey. However, data from state capitals on (0%) of female journalists at the district level. These accredited journalists at district level is included in states include Assam, Jharkhand, Nagaland, the study. The total number of accredited journalists Arunachal Pradesh, Orissa and Manipur and union in Andhra Pradesh is 9392 but information about territories of Pondicherry and Daman & Diu. social background of these journalists is available Information received from these states reveals that only of 7761 out of which 107 are female journalists. there is not a single female journalist working at Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh holds 967 district level. The information regarding the accredited journalists out of which only one is correspondents, reporters and editors is based upon female. There are 1146 accredited correspondents, the information received from 4 districts of Manipur, reporters and editors in Chittoor district of Andhra 6 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, 2 districts of Orissa, Pradesh in which 29 are female journalists. There 10 districts of Assam, 3 districts of Nagaland, 6 are 4 female journalists in Kaddappa district out of districts of Jharkhand and one each from Pondicherry total accredited journalists of 1041. In Karim Nagar and Daman & Diu. district there are 8 female journalists from a total number of 1035. With these figures Andhra Pradesh The states having maximum percentage of accredited accounts for the maximum number of total accredited female journalists are Sikkim and Meghalaya from journalists. north eastern region of India. Percentage of female journalists working at district level in these states is The survey also exposes the fact that the national 16.66 for each. The figures are based on the level media houses too have not performed information received from 3 districts of Meghalaya satisfactorily and the number of accredited female and 2 districts of Sikkim. Each of the states has total journalists working with these organizations is very 6 journalists with just one female. low compared to accredited female journalists in relatively smaller media houses. Within the ambit Participation of female reporters, correspondents and of the survey it was observed that most of the popular editors working at district level in Bihar is 9.56% and mainstream media houses have token presence while in Chhattisgarh it is 9.38%. We received data of female journalists accredited with them at district of 22 districts of Bihar and 8 districts of Chhattisgarh. level. Some media houses account only for one or Total number of accredited journalists in Bihar is two female accredited journalist at district level. All 251 out of which 24 are female whereas Chhattisgarh India Radio performs a uniform distribution as it has has 32 journalists out of which only three are female. six female journalists at grass root level. Majority of the female accreditation was found to be from Information from 16 districts is excluded from this regional and local newspapers. Survey figures survey because the data fetched from these districts showed that there were only two female journalists did not demarcate male and female journalists accredited as freelancers. separately. Therefore it was difficult to figure out

30 To Conclude :

A Statistical Representation of Gender in Mainstream Media

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: Avaneesh Rishi Kumar Singh Purnima Oraon Vijai Pratap Arun Oraon Varun Gond Azad Ansari

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32 Archives: Gender and Media

Nidhi Shendunikar Tere

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 are alternative media sites operational in India/South Asia which work to spread awareness and information about gender related issues and the media. The objectives of all these networks/websites are different as they continue to evolve over time. Since, the gender element is crucial for media practitioners, researchers, scholars and educators to account for – this list will serve a comprehensive purpose.

India Together - India Together (IT)- readers and viewers, and students and teachers www.indiatogether.org/women/media/ of journalism and communications. With a media.htm is an electronic publication devoted dedicated section on ‘Media and Gender’, it to coverage of public affairs, policy, and attempts to bring together several relevant development in India, providing news in links and readings and provide tools for proportion to the country’s broad development communities and individuals to interact with experiences. IT was founded in 1998 by the media. Subramaniam Vincent and Ashwin Mahesh. IT provides in-depth information & news on Beti Bachao Campaign – Print media the issues that matter covering 15 major topics campaign run by The Times of India to spread and over 15 states. The magazine also helps awareness about gender related issues. Stories/ leaders, experts, practitioners, scholars and news related to the campaign can be found at artists take their ideas, insights and concerns http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ expeditiously to an interested national and global audience. It has a dedicated section on Laadli - www.laadli.org - This is a girl child “Women and Media” which has contributions campaign - Population First’s campaign from eminent journalists and media against sex selection and falling sex ratio. It professionals on various issues related to the also gives awards for gender sensitive subject. reportage – known as the Laadli Media Awards apart from conducting gender sensitivity The Hoot – www.thehoot.org –This portal is workshops for the media. the outcome of the concern felt by a group of practicing journalists at some recent trends in Network of Women in Media, India Indian journalism. It is an attempt to revive a (NWMI) - www.nwmindia.org - The Network concern for media ethics, restore focus on of Women in Media, India (NWMI) is a development in the subcontinent, and preserve professional association linking women press freedom. It attempts to hold a mirror to journalists and other women working in or on the way journalists practice their craft. It is the media across the country. It came into devoted to examining issues of accuracy, being at a national meeting in Delhi in January fairness, right to information, censorship, and 2002 after a process of network-building responsibility of the media. It is aimed at which began in 2000. The NWMI website, journalists, users of the media including lay launched in February 2003, has evolved into

33 an interesting, useful and effective forum that participants ranging from grassroots seeks to promote both professional and community organizations to university personal enrichment. It has received students and researchers to media enthusiastic response from women journalists practitioners, all of whom participate on a and media-watchers, including many from voluntary basis. outside the country. Several other media and women’s websites have provided links to the South Asian Women in Media (SAWM) NWMI site, and postings on the site have been www.southasianmedia.net - The aim is to further disseminated through other media. The highlight women’s issues and perspectives and site has also enabled the dissemination of news to provide a platform for women media concerning women journalists, including persons to identify and find solutions to their awards received, honors bestowed, and books problems. SAWM works to realize the rights launched, and so on, adding to the sense of of women media persons. It aims to help media belonging and community. women network amongst themselves and with other women’s rights organizations in order The Global Media Monitoring Project to assert their rights and defend their interests. (GMMP) www.whomakesthenews.org/ - The It also plays an active role in networking, Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) campaigning, advocating and lobbying for maps the representation of women and men awareness and resolution of issues faced by in news media worldwide. GMMP research women media persons. As the first all-women has been carried out in 5 year cycles since media association in the region, SAWM works 1995 and relies on the voluntary efforts of towards the increased participation of women hundreds of individuals and organizations, in the media, equal wages and a gender including grassroots communication groups, sensitive environment. It now has fully media professionals and university functioning national chapters in the eight researchers. The Global Media Monitoring countries of the region – Afghanistan, Project is the largest and longest longitudinal Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, study on the gender in the world’s media. It Pakistan and Sri Lanka and is emerging as the is also the largest advocacy initiative in the largest network of women media persons in world on changing the representation of the sub-continent. women in the media. It is unique in involving

34 Relevant Readings: Gender and Media

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

Basu, S. (2012, September 22). Feminist film review: ‘Fashion’ and other Bhandarkar flicks. Retrieved from http://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 from http://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: Tracking change and continuity. New Delhi: Sage.

Irani, O. (2010, October 8). Interview with Shoma Chatterji – Role of women in Indian cinema. Retrieved from 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 Community Science, 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.

35 Oktofani, E. (2011, May 24). Most media reports on women’s issues focus on violence: Rights Group. Retrieved from 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

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Compiled by: Nalanda Tambe Nidhi Shendunikar Tere

36 WSRC Activity Report (June 2013 – March 2014)

ACTIVITIES/EVENTS COMPLETED • A seminar on “Gender and Media Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities”, in collaboration with the Faculty of Journalism and Communication was organized on October 5, 2013. The following eminent speakers and columnists shared their views on the above theme. Ms. Kalpana Sharma – Independent Journalist and Columnist, Former Deputy Editor and Chief of the Bureau 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”, was conducted from September 2 - October 12, 2013. The teaching faculty represented experts from a range of disciplines such as social work, human development, sociology, history, fine arts, media, political science, psychology, law, education, and health. Students from different backgrounds and disciplines participated in the course. • WSRC partnered in the International Conference on Women and Millennium Development Goals: A Social work Response, 13-14 February 2014, organized by Faculty of Social Work. The conference was organized 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 various organizations. The main objective of the conference was to maintain the momentum for accelerating progress to 2015, while taking stock of lessons learnt from efforts to achieve the MDGs so as to help understand the Global Social work response to the development agenda beyond 2015. The conference had received overwhelmed responses from national and international social work professionals, social science scholars, 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 and Wall Painting Competition on the following themes - 1. Women’s Empowerment 2. Role of men in Women’s Empowerment 3. Equality of women in development for all. Around 50 students from different faculties 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 the different faculties of the M. S. University of Baroda.

37 • 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 all the Departments in fourth and sixth semester. The course objective is to provide understanding about the situation of women’s rights and laws in Indian society from different perspectives.

Release of WSRC Communique - Seminar on “Gender Part-Time Certificate Course on “Women’s Studies: and Media Intersect: Challenges and Opportunities” Interdisciplinary perspectives”

← WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATION Students participating in Wall Painting Competition

← Students participating in Book Mark Making Competition

38 Women’s Studies Research Center Library and Documentation Center

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 from the Illinois University, working in the area of Women in Development, had come to the M.S. University of Baroda for establishing a collaborative project. That was the first attempt at collecting reference material on women in this part of India. This was followed by a number of activities that generated the awareness amongst a group of scholars from the M.S. University of Baroda to set up a resource center for the study of women in Baroda. 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 in Gujarat. The library presently houses - 1. Books 2. Periodicals and Journals 3. Bibliographies 4. Reports, Monographs and Dossiers 5. Rare Books and References 6. Newspaper Clippings 7. Documentary Films 8. Posters on gender issues

39 Subject Specialization The library and documentation center has materials catering to various inter disciplinary subjects authored by well-known authors and publishers. The subjects are - 1. Qualitative and gender research 2. Research methodologies 3. Sociology and anthropology 4. Women and religion 5. Sociology of women 6. Women and gender studies 7. Women and empowerment 8. Feminism and sexualities 9. Women’s movements 10. Women and politics 11. Women and economics 12. Women and law 13. Women and violence 14. Women and education 15. 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 services 3. Reference services 4. Bibliographic services Membership The library and documentation center is an open access library and provides services to under graduate, post graduate students, research scholars and faculty members of M.S.University of Baroda. Besides, the library also 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.

Glimpse of Library and Documentation Center

The Library Assistant can be reached at Telephone: +91-265-2792106 Email: [email protected]

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