HOW FAIR IS TODAY'S MEDIA | WOMEN IN POWER | EQUALITY and MORE Ft. Debarati Guha

In this episode of Beyond Borders Podcast, our host Aakriti Dhawan is joined by Debarati Guha, Director of Programs for Asia at DW (Deutsche Welle). Together, they discuss issues that deeply affect women in everyday life, often ignored, as well as the fairness of the media in 2026.

From being gifted a sewing machine instead of a bicycle as a young girl to constantly having to fight to make a place for herself in professional spaces, Guha reflects on the subtle ways patriarchy continues to shape women’s lives even today. The conversation also touches on workplace inequality, women not being taken seriously in media spaces, how empowerment is often spoken about without real shifts in power truly being accepted, and the unsafe realities many women still face, from rape threats and domestic violence to female foeticide and the lack of basic dignity and safety that still exists for women in many parts of society.

This is a conversation about feminism, patriarchy, and womanhood.

0:00 - 1:27 Introduction

1:28 - 5:00 Growing up in an orthodox family

5:01 - 9:49 Being a "headstrong" woman at work

9:50 - 13:11 How to raise boys to respect women

13:12 - 19:21 Surviving orthodox DW language services

19:22 - 29:07 Periods, pain, and career survival

29:08 - 35:38 The pay gap & the "child vs. career" trap

35:39 - 39:14 Is women's empowerment just fake branding?

39:15 - 41:57 How the West misinterprets South Asia

41:58 - 44:13 The privilege debate: Caste & class in media

44:14 - 48:27 Does newsroom orthodoxy still exist?

48:28 - 53:44 Indian media & the death of democracy

53:45 - 56:52 How WW2 history shapes German media

56:53 - 59:35 What global news is missing

59:36 - 1:01:31 Correcting the Western narrative

1:01:32 - 1:03:00 The DW project representing South Asia

1:03:01 - 1:04:22 Final advice to go Beyond Borders

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Disclaimer: This content is created for entertainment and conversational purposes only. We do not intend to hurt, offend, or target any individual or group. All views expressed are respectful and considerate.

Our host, Aakriti Dhawan is a journalist and storyteller bridging India and Germany.

Her podcast brings raw, thoughtful conversations on politics, gender, culture, animals, and the world we live in.

#DebaratiGuha #DeutscheWelle #BeyondBordersPodcast #WorkplaceInequality #WomenEmpowerment #Patriarchy #GenderEquality #WomenLeaders

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Listen on Spotify:

[https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdImNjwzf4NsLeVWDDAMy?si=lEWL0aogR-q_0Br7r9-a1w]

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