GENDERED DISCOURSE IN PAKISTANI TALK SHOWS: A PUBLIC SPHERE PERSPECTIVE OF FEMALE MARGINALIZATION

Abstract

The paper examines female marginalization in selected clips of three Pakistani  talk shows : Mazak Raat 
(2020), G Sarkar (2021) and The Late Late Show (2023) through the lens of  Habermas’s public sphere 
theory. Using conversation analysis (CA) and  feminist critical discourse analysis (FCDA), the research 
uncovers the discursive mechanisms that reinforce gender inequalities in talk show interactions. The 
comparison between talk shows and the public sphere highlights  power imbalances, challenging their 
perception as open and democratic spaces of debate and deliberation. It is argued that Pakistani talk shows 
reflect the bourgeoise public sphere by marginalizing  women through the blurring of the public/private 
boundaries, exclusionary practices and media control. The findings reveal that female celebrities are 
subjected to stereotyping, under representation and media manipulation in Pakistani media discourse. The 
paper calls for greater gender inclusivity in talk shows, emphasizing the need to address the harmful impact 
of  misrepresenting and diminishing female voices on broadcast media.