Media effect on Women in Media

Introduction

Media plays a dominate role in societies across the globe. Media has influence every part of today's society and women are of no exception. The influence and impact of media have strengthened in the last decade or so, which is mainly attributed to the emergence of more liberal electronic media. Similarly, the increase reachability of internet in virtually every home has made the role and impact of media more and more important. The ongoing revolution in global communications and the introduction of new information technologies mean that now the media can make a historic contribution to the advancement of women. Thus, the problem of media is that it has played a vital role in changing social views of individuals and has lead to various problems such as objectification of peers.

However, it is unfortunate that the media, visual media, electronic sound and many countries do not provide an image equiponderate of diversity in the lives of women and its contribution to society. Pornographic and violent materials presented by the media degrade women and negatively affect their participation in society. It can also be limiting the development of core programs that reinforce the traditional roles of women.

The Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, is considered a critical area of concern the continued projection of negative and degrading images of women and their unequal access to in information technology. The Conference called for an enhanced role of women by improving their knowledge, skills and access to information technology, thereby enhancing their ability to combat negative images of it are offered. The Conference stressed the need for involving women in decisions that affect the development of new technologies in order to participate fully in its spread and control of their influence.

In 1996, during its 40th session, the Commission on the Status of Women United Nations elaborated on the recommendations of the Platform for Action on the issue of women and the media and proposed States, the international community and civil society to take further action in this regard and even the inclusion of a gender perspective into all policies and programs. Among the agreed conclusions of that session included measures to raise awareness of the role of media in promoting non-stereotyped images of women and men and create an enabling environment for media women.

Discussion

To a young woman in her 20s today, women in leadership roles in the media may seem unremarkable. Women are in high-profile positions with news organizations and magazines; women write and edit books; women write, edit, and produce movies, television shows, and documentaries—and they have been doing so for many years. In news coverage they report from war zones abroad and cover cops and crimes at home. They work on the business side—as publishers, advertising directors, and marketing managers—as well as on the editorial side. They also are present in “new media” as bloggers and as creators and producers of alternative media.

However, women's presence, ...