The Portrayal of Women in Contemporary Sinhala Newspaper Reporting

Abstract

The portrayal of women in media has long been a subject of scholarly inquiry, with significant attention given to television, film, and advertising. This study on “The Portrayal of Women in Contemporary Sinhala Newspaper Reporting” examines how women are depicted in Sinhala newspaper reporting, focusing on prominent Sinhala publications such as Lankadeepa, Divaina, Silumina, and Mawbima. The study looked at how women are portrayed in terms of their social roles, traits, and ideals of femininity in the setting of Sinhala newspapers by using a qualitative methodology. The study's findings illustrated that women are depicted through language in three ways: the use of derogatory terms, such as 'dooshanaya', 'kelesima', and 'ganika', when reporting incidents involving women; a negative emphasis on women's presence in news reporting, resulting in gender bias; and an exaggeration of women's physical appearance in news reporting, leading to the objectification of women and a reduction of their value to superficial characteristics, disregarding their expertise, skills, and contributions. Suggestions for enhancing the portrayal of women in Sinhala newspaper reporting include advocating for the adoption of gender-sensitive guidelines and language and fostering diverse gender perspectives within newsrooms to foster inclusivity and equity in news dissemination.