The gender (un)wise club

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 19 December 2012 |  Saadia Khalid

The Journalist Panel dominated the National Press Club elections, but women were notably absent in key positions. This raises ongoing concerns about gender representation in journalism.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Predictably, the Journalist Panel won the elections of the National Press Club, Islamabad again by sweeping all seats against the Jago Panel.

However, it is somewhat unfair that there was no significant representation of women. The contestants for the key posts of president, vice presidents, joint secretaries and finance secretary – were all men.

This apparently feminist question would surely not be taken well by my male colleagues. “Chalo ab nae kahani shru”, (the start of a new story) they would perhaps say.

It is not the first time this question is being raised. I was among a group of women journalists, who pointed this out to the elected representatives of the press club on several occasions in the past. One answer was: “What can we do if women themselves are reluctant to take part in politics. We can't go to their homes and beg them to be part of our team.” Fair enough!

“Well, why are they reluctant to take part in politics,” we asked. This question was answered only once by an office-bearer. “Achy gharon ki larkyan pehly NPC nahi aya kerti thi. Ab ap log aty hain to shayed halaat badal jain” (Girls from good families did not come to the National Press Club earlier but now that you all have started visiting, things might change).

We were all angered by this comment of his and wondered what he meant by achay gharon ki larkiyan (girls from good families).

Now the question is would anyone classify men as achay gharon kay larkay (boys from good families) and buray gharon kay larkay (boys from bad families)?

Surely, it is the responsibility of the club office-bearers to create a conducive environment for women journalists – enabling them to freely speak for their rights and to also give them due representation.

It is time to go beyond reserving a stinky room for female journalists in the press club and make them equal partners of the journalistic community.

(The writer is a journalist who has worked for Daily Times and The News)