Team TrickyScribe: As Women’s Day nears, it’s time to question whether gender equality in India is more than just a ceremonial observance. A recent study by the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, reveals a troubling trend—media discourse on gender issues peaks around specific events but fails to sustain year-round attention.
Progress or Setback? The Data Tells a Conflicting Tale
India has climbed 14 ranks in the 2024 Human Development Report’s Gender Inequality Index, signaling some progress. However, the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum paints a grimmer picture—India has slipped to 129th place out of 146 countries, a two-spot decline from the previous year. The 2024 United Nations Sustainable Development Report further reinforces this concern, placing India among nations struggling with SDG 5: Gender Equality.
A Study of Media Patterns: When Gender Equality Gets Talked About
To analyze media attention on gender issues, researchers at Great Lakes used the SCORE Index (Sustainability Content Occurrence and Relevance Evaluation), in collaboration with IndiaDataHub. Their findings show that while gender equality isn’t the least discussed Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), it is among the lowest in terms of sustained media focus.
Spikes, Not Sustained Coverage: When Gender Issues Make Headlines
The study finds that gender discourse in India’s mainstream media intensifies around specific dates and incidents. Women’s Day, Raksha Bandhan, and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women see predictable peaks in coverage. In 2024, discussions surged around Deloitte’s “Women @ Work” report and high-profile gender crimes. Similarly, in 2023, economist Claudia Goldin’s Nobel Prize for her work on women’s workforce participation and PM Modi’s speech on women-led development triggered spikes in media attention.
Violence as a Trigger: The Dark Side of Gender Discourse
While positive conversations around gender equality exist, the strongest surges in coverage stem from gender-based violence. The RG Kar Rape-Murder case in August 2024 saw an uptick in negative sentiment, overshadowing Women’s Equality Day discussions. Likewise, in December 2023, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) sexual harassment scandal sparked intense media scrutiny. The study shows that while events like Women’s Day provide an opportunity for advocacy, it is often tragedies, crimes, and injustices that dominate media narratives on gender.
The Sentiment Balance: Positive Voices Struggle Against a Wave of Negativity
A deeper sentiment analysis reveals that while positive gender discussions slightly increased in 2024, negative discourse still prevails, especially following cases of violence and discrimination. Despite occasional optimism, the media remains reactive rather than proactive, waiting for crisis moments to spotlight gender issues.
Beyond One-Day Celebrations: The Call for Continuous Gender Dialogue
“As we mark another Women’s Day, the conversation on gender equality must extend beyond a single day or a few key events. For real progress, gender discourse needs to be a continuous part of India’s media landscape, driving informed policymaking and social change,” say Sanghamitra Bhattacharyya, Nidhi Kumari, and Bappaditya Mukhopadhyay, authors of the study.
The study strongly recommends that Indian media—especially business dailies—integrate gender discourse into mainstream reporting year-round. Achieving SDG 5: Gender Equality is not just about policy measures; it requires consistent media engagement to ensure gender issues remain in the public eye and on the policymaker’s agenda.
The Bottom Line: Will Gender Equality Be More Than Just a Seasonal Headline?
Without a shift in media priorities, gender equality in India risks being reduced to a fleeting conversation—loud on Women’s Day, silent the rest of the year. The challenge now is not just policy reforms but ensuring the media sustains the discourse, turning awareness into lasting change.
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