Nepal, Aug. 25 -- It is no secret that women's participation in Nepal's political sphere-from party structures to local, provincial and federal governments-is increasing. Yet the media continues to focus more on women's appearance, personal lives and emotions than on their substantive contributions. This not only undermines their political roles but also portrays women politicians as less serious political actors, even though some progress has been evident in recent times.

Stereotypical and gendered framing

Despite journalism's claims of objectivity, research indicates that women politicians are consistently subjected to biased coverage. News media emphasise their appearance, family or marital status more than their political actions or...