The growing norm of sexual harassment in Pakistan’s mainstream and ethnic news media

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Across time, in a variety of forms and spaces -from homes and workplaces to digital domains of social media- women have become victims of sexual harassment. Over the last couple of years, the world has witnessed appalling cases followed under the #MeToo campaign that has inspired an increasing number of women to share their experiences of sexual harassment in different contexts. Nevertheless, social and family pressures may discourage female journalists operating in conservative societies to express their concerns and experiences. The case of Pakistan is noteworthy. While women constitute a major proportion of the Pakistani society, the country’s men hold power in all major sectors and institutions. Sexual harassment can hinder women’s professional lives in any sector. However, female journalists’ experiences of sexual harassment are hardly documented in the academic literature about the Pakistani news media. Thus, informed by the framework of postcolonial feminist theory and intersectionality, this study aims to contribute an analysis of how sexual harassment is experienced by the Pakistani female journalists in the country’s mainstream, as well as ethnic news media. To achieve this aim, this study uses qualitative methods of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions and offers a thematic analysis of data.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)397-417
Number of pages21
JournalMedia Asia
Volume50
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Pakistani female journalists
  • Sexual harassment
  • ethnic news media
  • mainstream news media
  • postcolonial feminism

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Communication
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Linguistics and Language

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