Question- How does the media portray women?

Answer -

There are many films in which women were depicted in household chores. Jain and Pareek cite examples from films before the 1990s, such as Dahej (1950), and Pati Parameshwara (1988) where women were portrayed as submissive wives who made sacrifices for their families. This is also true for Indian TV serials where female characters are usually confined to the domestic sphere. The division between the ‘good’ woman and the ‘bad’ woman is also very evident in these episodes, where the ‘good’ are those who show love, concern, nurturing and emotional support while the ‘bad’ are those who show anger, and collude.

While most of the media presents women as stereotypes, the media also informs us about women who are strong, independent, have leadership qualities and who break stereotypes. Female feticide, atrocities on women, lack of opportunities and many other such stories are also reported by responsible journalists. However, such stories are few and far between.
The above discussion reflects a general trend that media representation of men is centered on agent roles, while women are primarily valued for their communal roles that emphasize domestic roles, sexuality and appearance. The media also portrays the supremacist or dominant group as characteristic of the hypermasculine ideal.

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