Introduction
It is almost common that when someone hears the word Afghanistan, a signifier to the country in central Asia, he automatically imagines the picture of Taliban insurgency and Al-Qaida terrorist.
Two controversial themes in Afghanistan are women status and stereotyping. Foreigners define women of Afghanistan as angel of the house or goodness/domestic wives; confined in domesticity. In addition, women wear Burqa reluctantly and are illiterate.
Virtually, it is not the real image or the real picture of Afghanistan and people who live in the heart of Asia as a country. This paper aims to show the thought and belief of some Afghan women and women status in public sphere.
One questionnaire has been designed, distributed, collected and analyzed carefully. Findings of questionnaire show that Afghan female journalists like many third world countries face many big challenges in cultural, social, political, and religious and some affairs.
Gender issues are explored in Afghanistan National Constitution and Mass Media Law, as well as International Convent of Human Right. Some of women sites focusing on Afghanistan women situation are also visited.
Themes:
- Definition of Professional Journalism;
- Gender in Mass Media Law;
- Women and media(how women look at media);
- Media and women(how media portrays women);
- The challenges of professional female journalists;
- Women and Public Sphere and the role of media;
- Suggestion
Methodology: A combination of questionnaire distribution, internet searching and literary study is applied to reach the specific or determined goals. A qualitative approach and mixed methodology are used for specific purpose to conduct this study. Because of distances and hard accessibility to the target group in Afghanistan, this study is based on conducted assessments, surveys and evaluations. On the other hand, statistics and quotations from famous women are taken from websites like RSF, UNIFEM and so on.
Goal: To identify the major challenges of professional female journalists and the role of media in their personal life.
Purposes: To gain improvement of professional women journalism in Afghanistan. They have their own publication and many of them are involved in audiovisual media. This study will help them to share their perceptions and challenges they are suffering from. Specifically, this study is to improve professional journalism among women and deliver perceptions of professional female journalists in Afghanistan to the M&C students of EFLU.
Target Audience: Basic target audiences of this study are female journalists in Afghanistan, but it is quite important to involve other women, especially women experts’ views to this study. Besides, this study will be a narrow window to the women activities in Afghanistan as journalist for EFLU students, scholars and teachers.
Target Area: Because of hard accessibility, two or three big and famous cities of Afghanistan such Kabul, Herat and Balkh are the basic areas to which this study refers. However, the conducted survey and assessments, statistics and surveys cover all cities in Afghanistan. The statistics based on authentic source survey and assessments have been done by UN and others in Afghanistan.
Question: The questionnaire compromises of open and closed questions. There are some questions that need to be explained. The questionnaire will concentrate on these main questions: What do you think about journalism?; Is it a profession or a practical occupation?; Is gender a matter on the beat of journalism activities?; What kinds of the major challenges you face are?; Is media a significant or integral part of democracy in Afghanistan?; and What is your solution for problems you are suffering from?
Problems of the Conducted Study: The main problems are lack of access to the sources, lack of sources, questionnaire distribution and collection. The questionnaire must be set up in Persian and then translated into English. Due to technical problem of translation, the author of this study might have missed some intended words by the respondents. In addition, the author has time limitation to accomplish this study.
The questionnaire has been distributed to more than 30 respondents including female journalists, public workers and students of journalism schools, but less than 15 responses have been given to the author. There are many reasons; lack of academic culture, traditional belief and fear of subsequences. Women think that their response might be published in print media and they will face challenges in their own business in Afghanistan.
Key Findings:
The study is based on questionnaire for the respondents and the key findings are listed as the following:
- Journalism is a profession and journalist is the person who graduates from journalism schools;
- The major challenges the female journalists face in Afghanistan consist of political, religious, social, economical and cultural issues.
- Traditional culture confines women as a household/domestic phenomenon.
- Women are not independent economically, so they are affected easily.
- There is lack of information that prevents women presence in public affairs.
- Public awareness programs play vital role for social change and restriction violence.
- Media is the most important encourager for women and plays significant role in the society.
Professional Female Journalists in Afghanistan
1. Professional Journalism
Journalism is a discipline of collecting, verifying, reporting and analyzing information gathered regarding current events, including trends, issues and people. Those who practice journalism are known as journalists.
Journalism is sometimes called the "first draft of history." Even though news articles are often written on deadline, they are usually edited and proofread before being published.
The main activity of journalism is the reporting of events by stating who, what, when, where, why and how and explaining the significance and the impact of the event or trend. Journalism exists in a number of media: newspapers, television, radio, magazines and the internet as a newcomer.
According to the Elements of Journalism written by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, there are nine elements of journalism. Because journalists must fulfill their duty of providing the people with the information, they need to be free and self-governing. They must follow these guidelines:
“Journalism's first obligation is to the truth, Its first loyalty is to the citizens, Its essence is discipline of verification, Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover, It must serve as an independent monitor of power, It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise, It must strive to make the significant interesting, and relevant, It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional, Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience and Its the rights and responsibilities of citizens”.
Afghanistan Mass Media Law defines journalist as a professional person whose job is to seek, obtain and publish information through news media (Article 3). Whilst many in west believe that journalism is not a profession to go to school and learn it. According to text “Journalism beat in India”, journalism is a practical occupation rather than a profession.
Nevertheless, majority of respondents believe that journalism is a profession and journalist is the one who knows the rules, cults, social norms and basic principles of journalism. According to them, school of journalism is the only place that provides mentioned components.
For instance, Addela Abbasi, a university graduate and a program officer in Afghan Development Organization, says that experts have known the significance of professional journalism and got advantage of it, but in Afghanistan media this [profession} is not as many as developed countries media.
Seddiqa Narozian, a senior trainer in term of teacher capacity building in Gowharshad University, argues that professional journalism focuses on specific issue like politics, economic and so on. According to her, one who reports and presents politics is a professional journalist in political affairs.
Aqela Kabeeri, an anchor of Radio Sahar, says that journalism has some basic principles and norms. These norms and principles make journalism as profession and journalist.
Finally, majority of respondents mention that journalism is a profession rather than a practical occupation, but they insist that journalist must know something about societies generally.
2. Gender in Mass Media Law
Article one: “This law has been enacted in accordance with Article 34th of the Constitution and Article 19th of the International Convent of Human Right for ensuring the protection of freedom of thought and speech and for regulating the activities of mass media in the country.”
Afghanistan National Constitution states that women and men are equal before law and as well as International Convent Human Right 19th Article. These articles (34th of Afghanistan Constitution and 19th International Convent of Human right) refuse any kind of discrimination against women. So we cannot find any article distinguishing women from men media outlets in term of establishment. On the other hand, there is not any restriction for women media activities and freedom of speech and thought textually.
Article 34th of Constitution:
“Freedom of expression shall be inviolable. Every Afghan shall have the right to express thoughts through speech, writing, illustrations as well as other means in accordance with provisions of this constitution. Every Afghan shall have the right, according to provisions of law, to print and publish on subjects without prior submission to state authorities. Directives related to the press, radio, and television as well as publications and other mass media shall be regulated by law”.
And Article of International Convent of human Right:
“1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice”.
There is no discrimination against women and men in Afghanistan mass media law. It means that women and men as citizens of Afghanistan can do anything that Constitution and mass media law grant. The only condition or prerequisite is to be citizen of Afghanistan and matures and not to be sentenced to depravity from civil right by an authoritative court. Article 24th of Afghanistan Mass Media Law states that concessionaire must hold ID of the country and have been 18 years old; and have not been sentenced to depravity from civil rights by an authoritative court.
- Women and Media
According to United Nations Development Fund for Women findings, only 208 (23.6%) out of the 881 staff members in the Government Press Sector were women; one private daily newspaper in Kabul reports that only 20.9% of staff members were women; in one private television station in Kabul, only 202 out of the 1,950 staff members were women and most women worked as cleaners and cooks in the media sector (UNIFEM).
It is quite clear that women can easily access the media to express their situation, criticize the government and explain the discriminations which they face in the society.
Female journalists and women who are involved in media activities in Afghanistan have faced many challenges and some problems are that they lose their lives. Shaima Rezayee, Tolo private TV narrator, Shakeba Sanga Amaj, Shamshad private TV channel narrator and Zakia Zaki, Director of Radio Saday e Sulh( Peace Voice Radio) are the victims concerning freedom of speech and women rights.
Media Portrait on Women
In Afghanistan the system of media is Libertarianism or Free Press System and the Government recognizes it as an official system in Afghanistan.
There have not been established, professional information and film productions in Afghanistan to follow a feminism media theory. There has been one active woman film director, Roya Sadat; she tries to portray women as they are in current situations. For instance, in Tar wa Zakhma Documentary (filament and plectrum) she shows women sewing rugs and in charge of household chores, but she tries to encourage them to come in public sphere and discard the tradition that women should not appear in public sphere.
There are many different stereotypes of women in advertising. Throughout history, women are mainly portrayed on television advertisement as housewives or occupants that are subordinate to men in Afghanistan. By monitoring Afghan TVs’ programs on October 15, 2010, the author of this study believes that women in advertisement, even as narrator and presenter of TV, must appear in a particular dressing that makes them look nice and beautiful.
TV Programs show a psychological power relation of women to men in Afghanistan. Many Indian soap-operas such as (kasuti zindagi ki) are representation of how women are portrayed by the media. The way of how media portrays women in Afghanistan is the same as the way of how media in India portrays women. However, some serials like Raz Haye en Khana(Secrets of this House) directed inside Afghanistan have been effected by Iranian even Indian movies and serials.
Print Media focus on women news few from perspective of politics and religion. One week monitoring by name of “One week no News on Front Page”, a study by author, shows that no one of English Dailies in Afghanistan, print women issues on their front pages.
Media portrait on women shows patriarchal system. There is Psychological relationship of power women to men and women as subordination unlike men are dominant.
4. The Major Challenges of Female Journalists
Experts in western countries say that the problems in third world rooted from traditional belief, attitude and behavior and lack of information. The main point of communication expert in west to the east and developing countries is to breakdown the constraint coming out from traditional cultures. Of course, this is based on modernization theory and measured by education systems, health services, and cultural values, thoughts and beliefs.
It is quite obvious that abysmal disparities exist between west and east; developed and developing countries. In many cases, traditional cultures confine people and prevent developments.
In many countries especially in third world countries women are not allowed to go out and do the thing that is necessary and significant for development.
The 21st century is called information society and media plays vital and significant role in term of development. The reason is that many cases or development projects need social change of norm and behavior. The main big problems across the world in twenty first century are the climate change, HIV/AIDS, Nuclear Weapons, Lack of Water, war and in many countries health and lack of information are the main development issues.
Afghanistan is one of those countries where people live within traditional culture and patriarchy plays important role in the society. There are fights, lack of hygienic and clean water, health problems, drug addiction, HIV/AIDS, women issues and so on in Afghanistan. But because of restricted interpretation of religion and sharia, women involving in personal affairs are not allowed to stride toward development.
Women due to Taliban Regime are not allowed to go out without their relatives. In such a situation there have been some hidden schools for women in urban areas. Since the collapse of Extremist Regime in 2001, the ground for women has changed.
Women have their own media outlets, commercial businesses and political activities or participations. Nevertheless, women problems have not been solved yet.
Virginia Woolf says in the conclusion of her essay, “women profession”, angel of the house may have been killed but there are still many works to do in Afghanistan. On the other hand, women in at least urban can go to their business and participate in health, political and social affairs; and constraints are overcome now, but these need more struggles and works to do. Women face their challenges differently.
Farida Nekzad, an Afghan journalist in Kabul in a meeting at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters says that the job of a journalist can be a challenge in any country. But getting the story in Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially for female journalists, can be more like a mission.
According to a March report on press freedom in Afghanistan, the number of women training to be journalists there has sharply declined during the seven-year tenure of President Hamid Karzai. The report, issued by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), states that for the past few years, the percentage of female journalism students in Herat, Afghanistan, has dropped from 70 percents to 30 percents.
“They have the same problems as male journalists but stronger,” said Vincent Brossel, RSF’s Asia director. “Some of them have been threatened by the Taliban and extremists because they are women.”
Its reason is quite clear that many female journalists have lost their lives mysteriously without punishment of their killers. Shaima Rezayee, Tolo private TV Channel and Shakeba Sanga Amaj, Shamshad TV Channel anchors and Zakia Zaki chief editor of Radio Sadaye Sulh
(Peace Voice Radio) were killed in Afghanistan but their assassins even have not been indentified yet. RSF report says that several dozens of female journalists have switched from reporting to administrative jobs or quitting the profession altogether for the past seven years in Afghanistan.
There is a woman like Farida Nekzad who has not been backed down. A veteran journalist and native Afghan, Nekzad, has worked as a reporter, editor, producer and trainer for 10 years, and has helped to train almost 200 young female journalists. In 2008, she was honored by the International Women’s Media Foundation with their Courage in Journalism Award for her work.
“It was my dream to work as a journalist,” Nekzad said. “In Afghanistan, women have always been victims. I thought we should talk about women, about the problems of Afghan women, violence, human rights and women’s rights.”
Women believe that the challenges they are facing come from traditional culture of the society, government officials and Taliban Insurgents. Farida Nekzad says:
“They have one problem in Afghanistan. Women are limited to work as journalists; violence against women is increasing in different provinces, even in Kabul. Different journalists are taking pressure, like kidnapping, warnings, and it’s difficult for them to work. We also have a religious system; the average knowledge of education in Afghanistan is very low. The idea of the man is that it’s difficult to accept a woman as journalist. We have warlords, we have definite positions, they are in power and they don’t want to work for society. Even they don’t accept the presence of women in society.”
Latifa Azad, a program officer of a private company in Kabul, agrees with Fariada Nekzad and the main concern of Miss Azad is security. Journalist especially female journalists face problems like kidnapping, warning and even death.
“In such traditional society like Afghanistan, security is the main danger for women journalist particularly but all journalists in generally.”
Insecurity is the thing that all male and female journalists complain against. Homaira Habib Radio Sahar Chief Editor in Herat, counts challenges of female journalists as bellow:
“Insecurity, not existing support for journalist, gender issues, governmental limitation for journalistic activities, not being of enough fund and …”
Security is the problem of female journalists in Afghanistan that Farida Nekzad goes to the issue very deeply. She claims that journalists want people to know about the reality. The warlords and people who are in power will kidnap. People cannot express their problems because they referring to powerful people and warlords have guns; they have power; they don’t accept the law—they have their own laws.
All respondents of the questionnaire concentrate on security problem at all for male and female journalists. It means that insecurity threatens the life of journalists in Afghanistan. Many women like Nekzad say that impunity is another challenge that women face. She adds that warlords threat the journalistic activities but no one arrests or punishes them.
On the other hand, warlords, wealthy, officials, religious leaders and so on overrule the laws and corrupt the information which is supposed to be transferred in proper and accurate way.
For women in Afghanistan, journalistic activations are not allowed in concept of patriarchy. Women are not allowed to go out and do journalistic activities; it is the sentence that many respondents indicate it. For instance, Seddiqa Nawrozian works in many public fields and right now she is a senior trainer in Gohershad University, saying that the situation of women in many parts of the country is serious but because of patriarchy reporting; they are not allowed to involve in public fields. Female and male journalists have not got permission to make reports or news.
According to Nawrozian, firstly women cannot go to journalistic routines. Secondly male journalist are not tended to publish or broadcast or audio visualize the situation because it is women personal affairs and women personal affairs are not allowed to go to public.
Gender issues become a newsworthy when political and religious dimensions are involved. Almost all respondents agree or say yes to the question: “Is gender issue newsworthy?”, but they have mentioned that gender issues come to religion- political matters.
Latifa Azad says that when a pure gender issue politicizes and becomes religious, majority of print and audiovisual media will publish and broadcast it.
5. Religion-Political Dimension
In every country, half of the population is women as well as Afghanistan. But in media it is mentioned that the number of women is not half of population but less than quarter. It will be mentioned quarter because women themselves involve in media activities and report their personal affairs. These few female journalists face many problems and challenges on the beat of journalism in Afghanistan. Especially when they are going to report their personal issues critically, problems and dangers come to them seriously.
For instance, Shia Muslim personal status law was offered to the parliament by government and passed simply in February 2009. In fact, no one reports what its contents are. President Hamid Karzai, signed it and ordered the minister of justice to publish it and announce to all. Only National TV channel and Radio station broadcast the law and few newspapers run by the government expose it.
The new law regulates marriage, divorce, and inheritance for the country's Shia population. It includes provisions that require a woman to ask permission to leave the house except on urgent business, a duty to "make herself up" or "dress up" for her husband when demanded, and a duty for woman not to refuse to have sexual intercourse when her husband wants it.
Everything is normal and silent even in media until Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, ex NATO General Secretary, criticizes the law. Furthermore Barak Obama calls it abhorrent, scrimmage started in all media locally, nationally, regionally and internationally.
Demonstrations in Afghanistan particularly in Kabul Capital organized by women activists are divided into two groups pro law and contra the law.
The opposing law women group having international support as Human Watchdog states that the law violates the women human right.
Women in parliament complain that the law has been rushed through with the help of several prominent Shia leaders. Despite calls from women's rights advocates not to sign the law; President Hamid Karzai has signed it in an apparent attempt to garner political support from powerful political factions in Afghanistan.
This is the issue that almost all respondents indicate implicitly. Women, who work in public services and journalist beats, say that their affairs will be aired and mixed with religion, politics and legislation.
For instance, Adela Abbasi from Kabul and Sina Amini from Herat say that women involving in personal affairs will be audio-visualized for political or religious colors.
Afghanistan traditional culture does not allow the family issues to be aired in media. There are few women that work detecting violence against women. Female journalists are going to bring the women issues to the public gradually. The media, particularly radio, brings small number of issues concerning women, but majority of their programs consist of music.
I as the author of the study have sent the questionnaire to the women in personal media like Radio Sadaye Zan from Kabul, Radio Sahar in Heart and so on; but I have received one response from Radio Sahar Editor in Chief. Humaira Habib, Radio Sahar Editor in Chief says that they themselves focus on women issue when it becomes politics or women affairs get legislation and religious colors.
Like Farida, a veteran journalist, Malay Joya who is a suspended MP counter patriarchy strives against warlords in Afghanistan. According to them, warlords trample women rights in Afghanistan and they are trampling now.
One controversy made by Joya is that when she calls parliament as a place where there are many warlords acting against women. When this controversy occurs, Jihadist struggle for passing impunity for themselves called Manshure Masalehe Melli (National Reconciliation Charter) also takes place. After this, her polemic statement of her membership is suspended. These struggles are nothing just fighting against patriarchy system and women emancipation from traditional culture.
6. Women and Public Sphere and the Role of Media
According to National Constitution, women have reserved seats in parliament and provincial councils. Women represent 27% of the Bicameral National Assembly: (68 out of 249 seats in the Wolesi Jirga and 23 out of 102 seats in the Mesherano Jirga.
The 2009 Presidential and Provincial Council elections were conducted on 20 August 2009.The elections were contested by 41 Presidential candidates (including two women) and 3,180 Provincial Council candidates who included 333 women. Women held 121 out of 420 Provincial Council seats in 2005.
Women account for 25.9% of all civil servants; the number of women who registered for elections increased from 41.5% in 2004 to 44% in 2005, three ongoing women ministers and acting ministers; and the first female governor was appointed in 2005 in the province of Bamyan; and one female mayor was appointed in 2008 in the province of Daikondi.
However there are inadequacies. Women still face problems after more than one decade of the collapse of Taliban Regime. Only three cabinet members are female ministers and acting minister (acting minister of Women's Affairs and Ministry of Labor, Martyrs and Disabled and acting minster of Public Health). There are not enough women to meet the 124 seat quota at the Provincial Council elections, and 3 seats have to be given to men. In 17 of the 36 Ministries there were less than 10% female employees and out of the total 17 Ambassadors of Afghanistan to other countries in 2007, only two were women.
Also UNIFEM finding shows that 87% of Afghans believe that women need a male relative’s authorization to vote; 35% of women believe that they would not have permission to vote and 18% of men admit that they would not allow their wives to vote.
All statistics mentioned above show that the presence of on public sphere is much low but is quite better than before Taliban Regime.
Patriarchal system does not allow women to have their own business out of the household chores, but women at least courage to say their problem and even many have own business in urban and rural. One senior officer of Afghanistan Independent Human Right Commission mentions that journalists come to meet women and ask them about their problem whilst there are few women struggling for women right too.
Suraia Subhrang, woman senior officer of Afghanistan Independent Human Right commission, responds to the question about the increase of crimes against women; she says that crimes have not increased but media coverage expands and covers more areas, especially women affairs. She explains that media makes women tell their problems and Afghanistan Independent Human Right Commission appreciates these initiatives of media.
According to Subhrang, media encourages women to come to public affairs and this is Afghanistan Independent Human Right Commission program too:
“We focused on Human Right and Journalism activities in 2003 and 2004 and trained many new Journalists in context of Human Right. Such kinds of programs enable them, especially women to report human right issues easily.”
Media especially television plays significant roles in Afghanistan. Kabul hosts about 30 TV channels and hundreds of Radio Stations. Majority of private TV channels are owned by Jihadists Leaders unlike Radio Station run by civil societies.
Media especially television is an important means that assists political parties to recall people for their support in concept of politics. For instance, women rallying anti Iran state for opposing Afghan executed in Iran.
Such events have repeated many times in case of Shia Personal Status Law that two TV channels oppose each other. That Emroz TV channel acts as anti law is not because of human right or women civil rights, but because of Tamadon TV channel that supports the law.
Many serials, movies and programs are screened in Afghanistan through private and National TVs and Radio where women are involved within. For example, Afghan Star is the program by which many youths including girls participate and it is conducted every year. The finalist girl will be named Afghan Bano and the finalist boy will be named Afghan Star.
Respondents to the questionnaire also point out to such programs and unanimously say yes to the role of media in term of women predication in public services and media.
Many respondents to the questionnaire indicate that media play vital and very important roles to change the restricted beliefs and thoughts. Humaira Habib, editor in chief of Radio Sahar, modifies lack of information among the society and identify media role vital for transferring of information for changing:
“Media transfer information to the people and; media are the most important encourager for the women for participation in social, political and economical affairs.”
Seddiqa Nawrozian from Kabul says that firstly it is necessary to build capacity of religious leaders and mullahs and secondly with cooperation of journalist, media changes belief, attitude and behavior of the societies.
Addela Abbasi, a single woman from Kabul, argues that with consideration of recent seven to eight-year-changes in social and political affairs, public awareness programs can play important role for women participation for development. According to Miss Abbasi, media is the vital means to achieve the goals in term of women participation in development and social changes.
7. Suggestion
Many respondents suggest that women emancipation from sarcasm of traditional culture is possible while women intensively participate in media activities. Sarcasm and traditional culture claim that women are a household phenomenon and considered as good and bad or villain by household and outside activities.
Women must eliminate constraints of cultures and follow their senior like Farida Nekzad and Malalai Joya and others. They can talk, discuss and travel easily and fight against discrimination against women powerfully.
Social change needs a sustainable information and education campaign in the country; the importance that women are in personal media does not follow it. Most broadcastings of women Radio consist of music whilst people consider music as fun not as way of conveying message.
Public awareness program indicates that some of the media especially televisions are significant in development project such as women participation in public services and private sectors. Programs like Feker wa Talash (Thought and Strive) screened in Tolo private channel can encourage women easily and increase women participation.
Government and International NGOs can play important role in term of women education, a key for women success, through development communication program. Media can play roles in knowledge, attitude and behavior change in Afghanistan if there is animus for conducting programs.
Women are not independent economically; a subsidiary projection can assist women as well. When social networking exists, it needs to be strengthened.
Finally, the problem is lack of information. It can be solved if women go to school; and governmental and non governmental institutions launch public awareness programs.
- Reference:
- A questionnaire designed and distributed to 30 female journalists and public workers in Kabul, Heart and Mazare Sharif. Almost half of them respond the questionnaire and send it back.
- Afghanistan Mass Media Law
- Afghanistan National Constitution
- International Convent of Human Right
Internet References:
- http://www.wordiq.com
- http://www.pit-gottschalk.com
- http://mediaforeignpolicy.foreignpolicyblogs.com
- http://www.thekillidgroup.com
- http://www.theepochtimes.com
- http://www.unifem.org
