Role of Media in Empowering
Women
Lolita Kohli
T
he objective behind women empowerment is to
give a dignified life to women in India because
it was felt long back that without empowering
women, dream of an empowered country cannot be
seen. The father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi said
it long back “Educate a man and you educate one
person; educate a woman and you educate the whole
nation”. This clearly indicates the importance of
women empowerment in development of society and
finally the country.
Today, this thought has been proved and we all have
accepted it more than any other philosophy. There
was a time when girls were struggling to go to school
but today’s women are educated at least in urban
areas. They are efficient in profession, and
successful on home front. It could not have happened
so well if the media, has not taken up this issue. In
today’s world, the role of the media, either print or
electronic are not only significant but very effective in
moulding thought process of every strata of the
society.
though after independence our Constitution treated
the women at par with the male member of the
society giving equal rights under Article 14 of the
Constitution of India. Though initially under the Indian
Succession Act 1956, a married daughter had no right
to partition even for her share in the property of the
late father. However finally she was given right to get
the partition after 1956 Act, Inspite of the above legal
situation the centuries old tradition, and mind set did
not move with the desired speed, still majority of
women relinquished their rights in favour of their
brothers. Apart from this, Muslim personal laws are
discriminatory against women, where women get only
half of the share as compared to the male heirs of
equivalent degree.
In a country like India for generations, the women
were suppressed and the society was male
dominated. But history says it was not the case in
ancient India, we did have strong empowered women,
but slowly male started reducing the role of women in
decision making, and started treating her not better
than a domestic animal and child producing machine.
Women continued to perform their duties without any
credit. It all started happening in the country where
women are ideally viewed as power (Shakti). Slowly
in the name of protection they have been confined
and left with no option except feeling helpless without
any means and power, because economically women
were dependent upon some male member or son of
the family i.e. father, brother, husband. Although
discrimination against women is, a global issue and
in India the situation did not improve much even
In the recent past, on the one hand, the women are
rising and are getting education at par with men and
as such their aspiration level has also risen due to
which they are chooser in their career and are
competeting with the males in every field.
The uprising of women has also brought some
disadvantages leading to late marriages, divorce,
long working hours and other kind of exposure which
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