Journalism as profession helping women in conflict to move beyond victimhood discourse: A case study of Kashmir

Abstract

Kashmir, the northernmost valley of Indian territory, is an acknowledged conflict area reeling under continuous violence for the past three decades. It is more in focus due to militancy, civil unrest, and human rights violations that have created difficult situations for the women of the Kashmir valley. They are usually portrayed as submissive and bound to conservative roles. While on one hand, their security of life and dignity is of prime concern, their education and professional development often take a backseat. Despite several odds and unstable circumstances, these women are striving hard to emerge as strong personalities. As Journalism empowers the masses with information and builds public opinion, it is crucial to have female contributions in this profession as their perspectives can’t be presented by men. Media in Kashmir provided women a platform to express themselves and help them prove their identities and move beyond victimhood discourse. This paper is an attempt to understand how journalism has emerged as a career choice for women from Kashmir and also aims to document their roles in breaking the traditional stereotypes by moving beyond the conflict and registering their identities as media professionals.