Media in Pakistan should avoid stereotype depictions and create awareness
KARACHI: In an age when gender equality is being attained in all spheres of life, our entertainment industry still lags behind. Movies and dramas still portray women as frail and soft.
Female characters are prone to manipulation and can easily succumb to choices made for them by others. We have our leading ladies shown as either moping in the corner or sitting around hoping for a saviour. These women are the epitome of female frailty and dependence. Then comes the perfect villains.
They are usually shown as evil, money hungry opportunists, who are depicted as nothing but ‘gold-diggers’. For the sake of women in our society it is imperative that we eliminate such portrayal from the mainstream media. These two opposing characters are always seen fighting among themselves on screen. But now it is time we united!
What we need is change. Why is girl-hate-girl always the main plot line of these shows? Why can’t, for once, we show dramas where women are supportive of one another? Our traits as human beings are not influenced by gender. Then why do we still stick to stereotypical understandings?
It is time we moved on from our petty differences and our blatant ignorance. The media should have a balance. Storylines should be carefully thought out.
Movies have an unconscious effect on society. Stereotypes and ideologies are embedded in our minds through constant advertisement. We are being fed constant streams of narratives that shape our understanding of the world. The media in Pakistan should avoid stereotype depictions and create awareness. Now Pakistani women are achieving distinction in all walks of life. They are outstanding doctors, engineers, architects, sport women and pilots.
Aishma Akbar
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2019.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
