Development, Gender Equality and Women Empowerment: A Critical Reflection of Mass Media Sensitivity

1. Development, Gender Equality and Women
Empowerment: A Critical Reflection of Mass
Media Sensitivity
Dr. Md. Aliur Rahman
Israt Jerin
*Dr. Md. Aliur Rahman, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Journalism and Media Communication
Green University of Bangladesh.
**Israt Jerin, Research Fellow, SSRC, Planning Division, Ministry of planning, Dhaka.

2. Perspective • Bangladesh, achieved the vision 21,
targeted to 2041;
• Achievement of several milestones
indicator of Development in South
Asia;
• Immeasurable contribution of
women in Bangladesh
• Multi-faced obstacles to the
patriarchal social structure;
• There are also socio-economic,
political, psychological, cultural,
moral and other obstacles remaining
due to Gender Discrimination.
Contd…
•

3. Perspective • Gender Equality and Women Empowerment
are among the top priorities of SDG
• Mainstream media, the vital development
communication vehicle
• Media can make a significant contribution
to achieving the SDG’s goal as a prime
observer of society
• Role of media in creating participatory
gender awareness towards women's
empowerment gender equality
• This study reviews that how responsible and
sensitive of our media and how far women's
empowerment is actually achieved
• It also examines the context and content of
media including the treatment reflects in
the mainstream media.

4. Study Objectives
The Study objectives are follows:
• To explore the correlation among gender, empowerment and
sustainable development goals.
• Identifying the socio-economic barriers to women's
participation in developmental activities;
• To assess the trends and treatments regarding women's rights,
resources and voices in the policy-making decision
• Explore ways of empowering women to promote gender
equality and voices women's rights and voice at policy-making
levels;
• To examine how the media can support mainstreaming of
women's participation in development aiming to achieve
gender equality; Contd…

5. Study Objectives
• Analyze how sensitive the mainstream media is currently
playing in gender equality and women's empowerment
• How media can play a role in changing the desired social
attitudes;
• To determine the role of media in desired change prevailing
socio-cultural attitudes towards gender equality;
• To find out the significant and diverse directions to achieve the
SDG’s specific goal 5 : Gender Equality and Women
Empowerment;
• Above all, put forth practical recommendations and guidelines
for the responsive role of media in gender equality and
women's empowerment.

6. Framing the Investigation
Questions • How important are gender equality and women's
empowerment in sustainable development?
• To what extent is the empowerment of women
integrated in achieving the desired development goals
for establishing gender equality in Bangladesh?
• What obstacles still exist in ensuring the active
participation and empowerment of women at all levels
of policy-making through gender mainstreaming in
sustainable development?
• What obstacles still exist in favor of ensuring the active
participation and empowerment of women at all levels
of policy-making through gender mainstreaming in
sustainable development?
• In the light of gender equality, what role can the media
play to accelerate women's participation and
empowerment in the development process and what
role is the media currently playing?
• In what ways can gender-responsive media play an
effective role in promoting sustainable development?

7. Conceptual Framework
• In sociological research inquiry, the conceptual
framework helps guide the research in the right
direction;
• The conceptual framework of this study has been
formulated based on the practical concept by
reviewing some theories relevant to the subject.
• Two theories have been accepted aiming to obtain
the successful outcome and direction of the study
in ensuring gender equality and women's
empowerment :
— Social Responsibility Theory of The Press
— Agenda-Setting Theory

8. Methodology of
this Investigation
• Assessing the subject, nature, scope and
objectives of this study, it has been
perceived that qualitative method is more
applicable and convenient for this
investigation.
• Considering the socio-economic implications
and benefits of this interdisciplinary study,
literature review, in-depth interviews, case
studies and focus group discussions were
chosen as methods of data collection and
analysis.
• In light of the 'research questions for the
investigation, for those who have relevant
information, face-to-face in-depth
interviews are being conducted with them
(12 selected persons) at the field level in
different categories.

9. Methodology of
this Investigation • In light of the 'research questions for the
investigation, for those who have relevant
information, face-to-face in-depth interviews are
being conducted with them (12 selected
persons) at the field level in different categories.
• Expert opinions are also collected and analyzed
through some special interviews with experts
and analysts who have relevant information.
• Data is being collected and analyzed through 3
focus group discussions.
• Study data is being analyzed by reviewing a
total of 5 case studies observed and investigated
in terms of content, objective and practical
reality.
• Finally, the overall results are presented by
confirming the refinement of the data obtained
by different methods.

10. Expected Outcome
• We'll gain a clear understanding of how
gender equality and women's empowerment
are inter-related with sustainable
development.
• The understanding of the power, capacity,
and role of the media in ensuring gender
equality and women's empowerment will also
be explicit.
• Unraveling the barriers to achieving gender
equality and uncovering the nature of
barriers to women's empowerment;
• We’ll be able to identify the existing barriers
and obstacles in the path of achieving gender
equality and women's empowerment.
• We’ll Identify strategic gender interests and
determine what to do in favor of formulating
effective policies and strategies through
gender mainstreaming;

11. Expected Outcome • By evaluating the role of the
country's mainstream media in
promoting gender equality and
women's empowerment, the
weaknesses, limitations, and
challenges of the media will be
exposed ;
• This study will be able to guide future
investigation to find out the
responsible role of mass media in
gender equality and women
empowerment as well as help in
policy making process in many
significant areas.

12. Concluding Reflections
Considering the context and content in
light of the objectives and primary
study findings the authors come to the
conclusion that—
• The media can play an effective role in
empowering women as well as
humanizing gender relations to bring
fundamental changes in perceptions
and attitudes by creating participatory
social awareness toward gender
equality.
• Mainstream media should be more
aware to present different types of
text and audio-visual content in a
sensitive way.
Contd…

13. Concluding Reflections
• Mass media should be more
responsible and sensitive in
promoting gender equality and
women empowerment;
• As the vital vehicle of development
communication and a prime
observer of society, media can play
more significant roles to achieve the
SDG’s specific goal 5: Gender
Equality and Women Empowerment.
• An inclusive and consistent gender-
responsive media policy and code of
conduct for all media should be
formulated.
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14. Thank You All
for
Patience Hearing
Any Query?