Do you have an interest in the field of Journalism but often get to hear that this field is not for Girls? Well, it’s absolutely wrong.

No profession should be alienated on the basis of Gender.

Gender discrimination is strictly prohibited. Today, almost every young person is capable of working, earning, and excelling in their particular field. However, it is also true that working women have to face many challenges, usually related to managing a lot of things along with work.

Work demands time which a lot of women fail to give due to their hectic life schedules. In most cases, unmarried women manage to give appropriate time to work with full zeal. They follow their dreams and cherish their goals. But as soon as they get married, they have to struggle a lot to manage their life. It gets tough for most of them and ultimately, they end up resigning from their job.

After marrying, working women have to juggle managing their love life, respecting their in-laws, managing to give appropriate and required time at work, taking care of their kids, and giving family time. In journalism, the work hours are not restricted from 9 am to 5 pm. The job has an uncertain nature and you can be called work any time of the day.

News can occur anytime. A journalist may have to work even in the late hours.

Challenges Women Journalists Often Face

1.  Family Pressure

Many families are against their daughters becoming journalists because this is a very challenging field. Families think that in the future when they will marry their daughters, the girls will be drawn to two fronts. They will have to fulfill their journalistic duties as well as take care of the household.

Moreover, many in-laws are not even cooperative. They don’t want a daughter-in-law who goes out to work, especially in a field which is stereotypically not suitable for women. They think such women will not be able to take care of their sons (and their grandchildren) as they should.

Leading Indian women journalists, such as Faye D’Souza, Nidhi Razdan, Madhu Trehan, and 

Rubika Liaquat, are breaking age-old stereotypes and proving that women are capable of becoming successful journalists while managing their families just fine.

2.  Work Pressure

Many employers impose a lot of pressure on their employees due to which married women face serious problems at home. Their family is against completing their work at home even after coming late from the office.

Obviously, families on their part are also right because as much as work is important; family time is also equally important.

The work-life balance in journalism is difficult to maintain. Being a journalist is one of the toughest jobs out there – their day-to-day involves unpredictable shifts, travelling in rain or shine to get back stories and meeting tight deadlines. Plus they often have to come face to face with distressing events on a daily basis which can make it hard for them to distinguish between work life & home life.

With greater work-to-family facilitation benefits, improved flexibility, and a more inclusive work environment, it is possible to make the field of journalism accessible and attractive to women.

3.  Against Coverage of Mishaps

Journalism is a field in which coverage of mishaps is an integral part of the nature of the job. You need to pack up your bags and go out and travel to some dangerous place to get the bytes – at any hour of the day.

Naturally, families are against this – as it is very dangerous to cover places full of mishappenings going on.

If you want to be a journalist (whether you are a woman or not), you should be ready to face these types of challenges. Technology is making the area safer and more secure, but you should still be aware of the risks.

The use of drones, GPS tracking, and online documentation are helping to reduce the risk associated with many of these activities. Women should also learn self-defence to protect themselves and be able to handle any situation that arises.

4.  Night Hours

This is the biggest constraint for women when it comes to choosing journalism as a career. Almost nobody allows women to work in the late hours of the day as it is not considered safe for them – and this stands true for both unmarried and married women.

Married women have to think about their husbands and children when they have to work for late hours of the day. Many husbands do support their wives but finding help in the late hours of the day becomes an impossible task. Moreover, our society is not so open when it comes to women working in the late hours of the day.

Many successful women journalists share that their family has been supportive throughout their journey – which is always inspiring. If you have a supportive family, it’s time to take the plunge and just go ahead with your dreams.

5.  Managing Kids

Being a journalist and managing kids is a tough task. Women often have to find ways to manage the kids while they are out in the field and this can be very difficult.

Flexible work hours, childcare options, and online opportunities are helping women journalists to balance work life with family life. There are also many organizations that provide support specifically for working mothers such as creche facilities, daycare centers, and other family-friendly benefits.

A disciplined routine can help you make your kids self-dependent and this will make life easier for you – and for them.

6.  Abusive Language when Reporting

Many families are even concerned about the bad things associated with this profession. When women go out in certain unprotected areas for reporting, they interact with multiple people. Many of them use abusive words habitually or purposefully – and you can do nothing about it.

Even in TV debates, you often see many eminent people using abusive language – and women journalists can be seen shutting them up or cutting them off. A strong personality, patience, and being cool-headed can help a journalist tackle such situations.

7.  Fear of Being Injured

A journalist often visits risky areas for reporting things. There can be a sudden rush and stampede or criminals and police could be chasing each other – and this can be very dangerous for a journalist to face.

This fear of being injured is the biggest issue that women journalists have to face. You need to be aware of your surroundings, especially in areas where there are no security guards or police personnel. The best way to tackle this is by continuously updating yourself with the latest news and what’s happening in the area.

Quick thinking and quick physical responses are also very helpful in such situations.

8. Unequal Work Status

In many offices, women journalists are not given the same status as their male counterparts. They are given mundane tasks and not given equal opportunities or roles that other journalists get.

Sometimes, they are kept away from important assignments and only made to cover smaller events – while their fellow male journalists cover the big stuff. This is a huge problem and one that needs to be addressed in order to give women journalists their due.

The only way to tackle this is to speak up – let your voice be heard, ask for equal opportunities and take initiatives to create a level playing field. Women should also find mentors who can help them in challenging times.

9. Gender Discrimination in Duty Allotment

Gender discrimination is very common in most of the news organizations. Women are often not given tougher assignments or breaking news stories – while their male colleagues get all the important work. This creates a sense of insecurity and doubt among women journalists, leading them to give up on their dream and move away from the profession.

Women should use their presence and voice in the newsroom to make a case for themselves and demand equal opportunities in terms of assignments, roles and responsibilities. These are interesting times for women in journalism and there is no better time than now to stand up and be heard!

10. Poor Working Conditions

Many newspaper offices do not have basic facilities like washrooms or creches for working mothers – making it difficult for them to continue in the profession.

In some cases, there are also issues of job security and contracts are not renewed due to no fault of the journalist. This is a huge deterrent for women journalists and they often give up on their dream when faced with such dire conditions.

The best way to tackle this is by creating an effective network – so that you can be informed about any job openings or changes in the news industry. It’s also important to make sure that you are well informed about your rights and the rules of the organization. This will help you in tackling issues related to job security and poor working conditions.

Conclusion

Women should not give up on their dreams of becoming a journalist – even in the face of all these challenges.

With grit and determination, they can make a name for themselves in this profession and prove that they are equal to men when it comes to reporting news or opinions. It’s time for women journalists to take charge and create an impact in their chosen fields.