EXAMINING THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN CREATING AWARENESS AMONG WOMEN ABOUT THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS UNDER THE NIKAHNAMA

Abstract

In Pakistan, women are granted certain rights in nikahnama under the Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961. However, women in Pakistan rarely utilize these rights due to insufficient information and limited authority. To encourage the exercise of these rights, it is essential to educate women first. In the modern era, media’s significance cannot be denied in disseminating information to people. Moreover, it is the core responsibility of media to educate and empower its audience. Hence, this study aims to explore the role of media (TV and social media) in educating women about their legal rights under nikahnama. A survey research design was employed to collect data from the educated women of Lahore. The theoretical framework of “Social Learning Theory” was employed to get in-depth understanding of the above said phenomenon. Results indicate that women are aware of their legal rights under the nikahnama, but they lack sufficient knowledge about the legal penalties for violation of these rights. Media was the primary source of information that educated them about nikahnama. Role of social media was found eminent in empowering women with knowledge about their legal rights. However, the role of TV in this regard needs improvement. The study recommends government and NGOs should utilize media to educate women about their legal rights in Pakistan.