We have come a long way since ancient times when no one was talking about sexism as it was considered normal for females to be discriminated against by males.
Society has changed and so has its view about female sexism but still, it is ingrained in our patriarchal society and a lot more needs to be done and addressed to prevent discrimination against women in certain fields like law, defense, etc.
Women's representation in the media is still problematic. The focus of the important news of the day is kept away from women.
The way women are represented in the media is skewed. The focus is on their personal life rather than their accomplishments and talents.
We probably overlook sexism in the workplace more than we give in to it. Sexism is so firmly ingrained in so many aspects of our life and society that the majority of sexist ideas go unrecognized or ignored. So, the time has come to put a stop to it.
What Is Sexism?
Sexism is unfairness or discrimination against girls and women based on their gender or sex. Sexism is based on the belief that one gender is more valuable or superior than the other gender. It establishes a boundary between what boys and men may and should do, as well as what girls and women can and should do.
The term "sexism" was established to raise awareness about the mistreatment of women and girls, but by the turn of the century, it had expanded to include bad treatment of people of any gender, including men and boys, intersexuals, and transgender people.
Sexism has the greatest impact on women and other oppressed genders. It also impacts men indirectly.
Casual Sexism In Headlines
In the Tokyo, 2021 Olympics Lovlina Borgohain won a bronze medal in weightlifting. Rather than discussing an athlete's life story, their first meal became the focus of attention for the newspapers.
Women who succeed in whatever field are always India's daughters and sisters. Rather than discussing their struggles on the field, we choose to use labels that detract from their accomplishments.
In 2019, Esther Duflo’s name was not even mentioned in the headlines when Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo won the Nobel Prize. Many newspapers mentioned her as his wife rather than writing her name in the headlines.
Women's achievements, even at the highest levels, are still not their own in 2019. In the view of many Indian media outlets, Esther Duflo's greatest achievement is marrying Banerjee, after which all subsequent achievements became his, albeit they have not, of course, been hers.
In the instance of Raj Kundra, every news headline refers to him as Shilpa Shetty's husband. When something awful happens, women become more vulnerable to the media.
Why Does the Media Not Focus On Women’s Achievements?
When women appear on news networks and in newspapers, they are typically viewed as 'eye candy,' with the spotlight primarily on women rather than residing in the content of their views, according to a study published earlier this month by a group of researchers from the University of Bristol and Cardiff University.
They looked at over 2.3 million items from 950 news providers for six months and published their findings in PLOS One. They discovered that men and boys were more frequently represented in both photos and text than women and girls.
A fundamental human right is for women to participate fully and equally in all aspects of society. Women and girls are underrepresented in many areas around the world, from politics to entertainment to the workplace.
The following visualizations take a closer look at this gender-inequitable picture across time, demonstrating how slow progress is.
The implications, which are rooted in patriarchal norms and traditions, are far-reaching, with severe effects on the personal, economic, and future well-being of women and girls, their families, and the community in general.
No one should be left behind in the pursuit of a sustainable future for everybody.
Women and girls are important in discovering solutions to the world's most pressing problems, and they must be heard, valued, and celebrated throughout society for their ideas and choices to be reflected in their own and humanity's futures.
How many generations will it take for women and girls to be able to use their rights?
The culture of favoring men over females is still very much prevalent in our societies and the perception of seeing females standing equal to males is not taken in a good vibe. That is the reason why the media does not genuinely project female achievements.
Written by - Nidhi Gupta
Edited by - Krishaa Radhakrishnan
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