Abstract

This study examines the image of women as portrayed in the newly independent two Egyptian newspapers, Nahdet Misr or (Egyptian Renissance ), and Al-Masry Al-Youm or (The New Egyptian). The study aims to identify to what extent these two newspapers promote a developmental image about women's roles in society. It is very significant to examine the phenomena of individual newspapers as a new press in addition to the governmental and party press. This is considered a pioneer research for addressing the issue of women in the independent media.

The Mass Media reflects the society it exists in. The mass media has a powerful effect on the formation of people's attitudes and perceptions towards specific groups. Women are one of these groups that the media directly affect them by the way they are portrayed and by portraying certain image to the public minds. Previous studies conducted studied women's images in magazines and governmental newspapers. However, this study aims to know whether women are portrayed in a different manner and whether there is a different approach in tackling women's issues in these two independent newspapers.

The categories of values were measured by comparing the roles of women as developmental or non-developmental. In General, this study revealed that Al-Masry Al-Youm and Nahdet Misr are approaching towards a positive portrayal for women. Women's political and social role were highlighted showing the importance of women's integration in all the fields of the society to reach a sophisticated level. Attention is no more focused on women's concerns with

fashion and cosmetics or being passive housewives whose main interest is nurturing and feeding their families. A new image is portrayed for a working woman who is developmentally participating in the society's enhancement. Both newspapers show the appearance of the so-called "intervention text", such as texts on discrimination against women or education text, sexual abuse in the work place or the harm of stereotypical perceptions of gender roles. Although, the study resulted in some weak points, such as the problems that rural women and the lower class women are facing, yet these two newspapers are trying to promote a positive image for the Egyptian women. More research can be done on the effects of monitoring women's image in the media, such as the Media Watch Project, initiated by the National Council for Women in order to combat all kinds of discrimination against women in the media.

School

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department

Journalism & Mass Communication Department

Degree Name

MA in Journalism & Mass Communication

Date of Award

2-1-2005

Online Submission Date

1-1-2004

First Advisor

Hussein Amin

Committee Member 1

Hussein Amin

Committee Member 2

Naila Hamdy

Committee Member 3

Hassan Ragab

Document Type

Thesis

Extent

178 leaves

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Women

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Women in journalism

Library of Congress Subject Heading 3

Munīf, ʻAbd al-Rahṃān.;Kūnī Ibrāhīm.

Rights

The American University in Cairo grants authors of theses and dissertations a maximum embargo period of two years from the date of submission, upon request. After the embargo elapses, these documents are made available publicly. If you are the author of this thesis or dissertation, and would like to request an exceptional extension of the embargo period, please write to thesisadmin@aucegypt.edu

Call Number

Thesis 2004/93

Location

mmbk

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