The Gendering of Women in the Discourse of Politics: A Case of Political Talk Shows in Pakistan

Abstract

The study explores the position of Pakistani women through an analysis of political media discourse in the backdrop of an emerging discourse on feminism and women empowerment in Pakistan. The undertaken study focused on the frequency and quality of women’s participation in the discourse of politics to unveil sociocultural realities concerning women, their place in Pakistani society, and the treatment meted out to them by their male counterparts when they engage in political debates by employing Fairclough’s method of critical discourse analysis. Findings indicate a slow yet visible change emerging on the political landscape of Pakistan as more women voice their opinion especially on issues concerning prevailing conditions for women in today’s Pakistan. It is also revealed that women continue to be marginalized as indicated by their thin representation in political talk shows and their trivialization by means of cultural frames used to undermine their political standing. Conclusions emphasize the importance of women’s political empowerment inevitable for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan. The study is significant as it adds to the developing literature on feminism and women’s representation in media.