Gender equity is not only women's issues but a platform where both men and women should work together to fight the patriarchal corporate world, said Dhaka University teacher Kaberi Gayen at a workshop yesterday.
Kaberi Gayen, associate professor of Mass Communication and Journalism department, in her keynote paper criticised gender sensitive commercial advertisements in media for representing negative image of women.
She said despite request in writing to the media houses, only two newspapers--The Daily Star and Prothom Alo--have stopped publishing advertisement on "beauty enhancing products" like "Fair and Lovely."
Kaberi Gayen said women themselves should take initiatives to make the media houses they work women friendly.
She, however, said media houses have to reform their own structure to ensure female representation in policy making level.
Women journalists identified stereotyping attitudes, discrimination in beats, harassment by male colleagues and job insecurity as the reasons behind to discourage them to quit their jobs.
Speaking as the chief guest, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Ministry Shirin Sharmin Chowdhry assured of all kinds of help from her side to create a gender neutral environment in media houses.
The Women Affairs Department and Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra (BNSK) organised the workshop on the role of mass media in bringing about gender equity held at BIAM auditorium in the capital with BNSK President Nasimun Ara Huq in the chair.
BNSK General Secretary Parvin Sultana Jhuma, Executive Editor of Anannya Magazine Dil Monowara Monu and BNSK Finance Secretary Aktar Jahan Malik also spoke at the workshop.