COVID-19 AND EDUCATION OF MASS COMMUNICATION:

A CHANGE, CHARGED WITH EXCLUSION AND DISPARITY

Authors

  • Saleem Abbas Department of Mass Communication, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) Lahore
  • Firasat Jabeen Department of Mass Communication Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore
  • Huma Tahir Mass Communication Department, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46521/pjws.028.02.0092

Keywords:

Women education, COVID-19, gender parity, blended pedagogy, digital-divide, Education of Mass Communication, Online education

Abstract

The sudden closure of educational institutions in 2020  brought multiple financial and learning challenges for Pakistani female students. In our experience, not only formal and informal learning realms of female students have been affected in the post pandemic educational landscape, but a distinct gender and digital divide (GDD) is also noticeable between technology-equipped and deprived students. Considering the theoretical perspectives of digital divide, this paper will essentially explicate the chasms existing within female students of Mass Communication in Pakistan. 

Given Pakistan’s conservative and patriarchal culture, it is very important to study how female students of Mass Communication, from both urban and rural areas, responded to the change after the pandemic. Through in-depth interviews of twenty female students, we argue that the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated already existing GDD in Pakistani educational landscape. Especially the first order GDD in education can be seen frequently in Pakistani rural locations. Moreover, economic limitations and socio-cultural norms also play an essential role in exacerbating second order GDD in the Mass Communication education. Thus, in this sense, the pandemic has brought a change that is charged with exclusion and disparity. Moreover, we argue that digital divide is a gendered concept for a periphery country such as Pakistan.

 

Published

2021-12-29

How to Cite

Abbas, S., Jabeen, F., & Tahir, H. (2021). COVID-19 AND EDUCATION OF MASS COMMUNICATION:: A CHANGE, CHARGED WITH EXCLUSION AND DISPARITY. Pakistan Journal of Women’s Studies: Alam-E-Niswan, 28(2), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.46521/pjws.028.02.0092