KATHMANDU, April 19: Kranti Shikha Dhital, a lawmaker from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the tendency to prioritize women’s physical appearance over substantive issues in public interactions and media coverage.
Coming from a journalism background, Dhital took to social media to urge media professionals to reflect on their questioning style and professional conduct. She argued that opening conversations with young female politicians using remarks such as “you look beautiful” or “you are well-dressed” diverts attention away from meaningful discussion.
“What may seem like a personal comment is, in fact, a structural tendency to confine women to appearance rather than substance,” she wrote, emphasizing that such language weakens women’s voices, sidelines key issues, and lowers the quality of public debate.
Beyond the object on display
Dhital, who also serves as a party whip, stressed that women have long been striving for equality, dignity, and meaningful representation, and that reducing them to their looks undermines that struggle.
“There are many platforms for discussing beauty. Journalists should be mindful and responsible about what kind of questions they ask and in what context,” she stated.
She also acknowledged the need for self-awareness among women, urging them not to be overly influenced by externally imposed standards of beauty and to focus on self-improvement.
Highlighting the role of journalism, Dhital said the gap between mainstream media and emerging YouTube platforms is largely determined by the quality of questions asked. She encouraged media professionals to raise the standard of inquiry and even learn from digital platforms that are increasingly competing with traditional outlets.
“The microphone you carry is a tool to carry ideas, not to evaluate appearance,” she wrote, calling for more intellectual and critical engagement in journalism.
Dhital further noted that the growing trend of objectifying women’s behavior, expressions, and presentation on social media—even when unintended—ultimately reinforces the same culture that society claims to challenge.
Concluding her statement, she emphasized that media is not only a means of information dissemination but also a powerful force in shaping social consciousness, urging it to act responsibly, sensitively, and in a transformative manner.
-1776353206.webp)
