Analysing the Portrayal of Women in Pakistani TV Drama

Media is a mode of communication and its role in society is to educate, entertain and inform the audience. Media, considered as a 4th pillar of our society is a cultural force, which not only reflects the social reality but also modifies it. Dramas are the biggest source of entrainment in Television industry. Where it entertains people It also educates and motivates towards the new trends. TV dramas are the biggest source of enhancing the cultural values and norms. Television drama is a popular and favorite form of entertainment all over the world. Basically television drama is an adapted form of art that comprises the traditions of theatre, film and radio. Later the unique presentation techniques brought about a clear distinction to television drama.

Generally TV Drama is meant for entertainment purposes. It has also been instrumental, in the third world country for propaganda, publicity and to create awareness about various social issues. Drama has a strong emotional involvement for the audience. (Siraj, 1997) Several studies have demonstrated that the information and exposure provided by television can influence a wide range of attitudes and behavior. Some of the most beloved TV programs include drama serials and morning shows. They happen to be the favorites of Pakistani viewers and specifically of housewives who happen to take up a majority of Pakistan’s female population. The drama serial are mainly concerned with the premarital and post-marital situations and conditions of both domestic and working women of Pakistan. Women of these dramas are almost always subjected to some form of violence and hardships. Usually these problems are regarding domestic affairs or external pressure. The characters of Pakistani women can evoke feelings of catharsis with these characters. (Ali, 2015)

According to the press release in relation to Television Audience Viewership in Pakistan 2017 by Gallup Pakistan, the average TV viewer spends 2 hours daily watching television and in which female (18+) are at the highest ranking for watching TV all day. (Gilani Research Foundation Polls) Pakistan has a rich tradition of television serials. These serials were aired on Pakistan Television Network (PTV) before the advent of cable TV and were popular in not just Pakistan but neighboring countries too. (Jiwani, 2013). If we do comparison between Pakistani dramas made in 1970’s, 80’s and now we can clearly mark the difference. Classic Pakistani dramas depicted women as career oriented,, female protagonists depicted as very ambitious and family oriented such as Khuda ki Basti or Neelay Hath. Then in 2000’s, Indian content influence our drama industry and our dramas start objectifying women by heavy makeup, jewelry and women’s lives restricted to love affairs such as drama Mehndi by Seema Ghazal, based on glamor and wedding events, no message and no story content. And today’s dramas women are defined by their relation to men and are deviating from being shown as one dimensional character. Now dramas have built common stereotypes of women, the arrogant socialite will always be strong willed and wealthy, strict and little oppressive. Second stereotype is the spoilt rich girl every drama has, which always has a bad character, competitive, despite being lazy they manage to get in top universities and usually attired in modern clothing like sleeveless t-shirt and jeans.

The most important character of all dramas is the main victimized woman commonly known as the Mazloom aurat, she would be the most innocent who don’t thinks for herself, despite all the injustice she maintains a cheerful face and obedient with each and every one. Examples of these dramas are Madiha Maliha of Momina Duraid, Vasl from HUM TV, Man Jali from Geo TV, Naseebo Jali from Hum Tv and many more in the list. There is no denying that Urdu dramas are a great source of enjoyment and entertainment but these dramas are impress by Indian or western culture. Women are trying to practice what they see in Urdus dramas. Our Urdu dramas are becoming threat rather than a source of enjoyment, entertainment. Women had forgotten our own tradition, customs, and culture. (Dr. Ghulam Shabir) Where all these dramas are on one side I noticed one drama Mubarak ho Beti Hui hai from ARY Digital which is showing the true strength of women, that women can survive without a man, it is not necessary to live with a man who is violent or any kind of injustice. As the media is often responsible for shaping our opinions, dramas portraying women as being weak and oppressed can have an adverse influence on the way people think about and treat women in our society. However, if dramas focus on strengthening women and empowering them, this can have a positive impact on society. Women could be inspired to stand up and speak up for themselves, for their own rights and protection. Media has become a major tool for launching psychological operations and influencing hearts and minds of the people around the world. Recently a study of 1000 Hollywood films has revealed that Muslims are generally portrayed as criminals.

There are examples of governments allocating huge budgets to operate international propaganda channels. We may not close eyes from this phenomenon. (Portrayal of Women in Media, 2009) Literature Review: Huma ZE (2015) researched on Analytical Study of Television Drama Narratives, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Bannu Road Pakistan. In her research she used two method, survey and content analysis method. She significantly analyzed dramas of prime time and Khawateen time from July to June 2002. Her Research question is the central element of both quantitative and qualitative research. This gives an insight that in which Pakistan television drama lakes at the moment of boom in private and localized foreign media. Researcher has found a dynamic change in PTV drama between 1980s drama and 21st century drama through content analysis technique of research of dramas that were selected from both the intervals. The change that has occurred in Pakistan television drama, it is of what type? What are the frequencies of this change? Does the need that have been changed with the passage of time are tackled by PTV drama, in contents, theme, background setting, physical appearance of actors, dressing styles, interactions etc. Does the changes that have occurred are in accord with our cultural values? These are some of the inquiries that are discussed. In her research she concluded that PTV dramas failed to educate the people but successes in highlighting women issues.

The theme of PTV dramas lost diversity and every drama has same subject to appear. Due to this PTV has less viewership than cable TV network. Due to exposure to other channels hobbits and perceptions have changed with the passage of time. (ZE, 2015) Anjum Zia (2007) researched on Effects of Cable Television on Women in Pakistan: A Comparative Study of Heavy and Light Viewers in Lahore, She used survey using questionnaire interviews method in her research. She targeted 432 women aged 18-40 years and viewing cable television for a minimum two years. The purpose of this research was to find out the influence of television on the lives of women living in Lahore. The main hypothesis studies was that when the exposure of TV is greater, the impact on women will be greater and what get effects the more such as family, activities, social interaction patterns and many more expects of life. Her main findings were to: Explore how viewing of cable television was affecting women’s household chores and personal appearance and style, changes in cultural practices, Gauge association between viewing of cable television and change in family and social interaction patterns of women (18-40 years) in Lahore. Assess association between viewing of foreign channels and role of Pakistani women in society. The general findings revealed that the majority of respondents were aged 31 to 40 years, belonged to the middle and upper middle class, were graduates but unemployed, and were heavy viewers. The study claimed that this relationship in some cases can change life patterns or mold personalities. More importantly, it appears that these changes can occur and one may not even realize them. This study exposes that soap operas and movies were among the most watched by women on cable television.

The results of the study have confirmed the impact on women cable television impacting women in Pakistan and they have been influenced by western and Indian values. (Zia, 2007) Ahmed Rameez Ul Huda and Roshan Amber Ali (2015) researched on Portrayal of Women in Pakistan, Sargodha Pakistan. He study to examine that how Print, broadcast, social media and advertisement presenting the image of women. The main objective of his study was to explore the biased behavior of media which is impacting greatly the image of women of Pakistan and analyze the presentation of women by Pakistani media and its factors. They conducted the research with survey method and collected data by sampling technique. They used internet for their data collection by 100 open ended questions in questionnaire. The conclusion of research was that media objectifies women in all sectors. The way they are treated and portrayed in this arena exposes her to sexual harassment. Media can easily alter the stereotypical image of women. The disgracing of women in media is because some people are only interested in money making through sensuous advertisements. Media is biased as far as the issue of gender inequality is concerned. (Ali, PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN PAKISTANI MEDIA, 2015) Mahak Jiwani (2013) researched on A Look at the Shift in Female Characters in Television Dramas from Strong Survivors to Meek Victims (in light of Tanhayian and Humsafar), her research has been carried out through two major research strategies.

First one was Qualitative analysis of the opinions of the people involved in the industry and second was Analysis of the female characters of a drama from 1985 and a drama from 2011. Her research attempted to analyze the shift and its causes in terms of the history and political conditions of the country, religious and cultural ideologies and feminist perspectives. She compared two most popular dramas of the time; one was Tanhayian and second was Humsafar. She compared the lead the characters of women, as tanhayian had featured a very strong, career oriented woman, Zoobi who supported her nieces alone. When in her opinion Humsafar was a simple, stereotypical story told in the most exciting and modern ('glamorous') way. She figured out that this shift is not that linear or simple. However, the old dramas were remarkable in their portrayal of feminine strength when they are analyzed in their context.

In current dramas, female agency is portrayed to be detrimental but dissent from the popular narrative is present. (Jiwani, 2013) Chandra Pratap Pandey prepared a research on Impact of TV Soap Opera on the Life-style of Today’s Women in Lucknow India. The prime purpose of this research study is to see the extent to which the TV SOAP OPERA affects WOMEN their change in behavior and attitudes towards worldly things and effect on their lively hood. To determine the impact of Soap on domestic or personal factors and basic deviations in the cultural and custom aspects. To investigate the violence being aroused by exposure of TV and to compare the influence on high and light viewers. The survey is the descriptive research method. The total population of this study comprises all female TV SOAP OPERA viewers aged 18 to40 years and children viewers aged 8 to15 years residing in Life Style.

Women viewing TV SOAP OPERA for less than 2 years are excluded women viewing TV SOAP OPERA for less than 2 years are excluded from the sample because the researcher believe that time period less than 2 years is insufficient to cause effects on viewers. This study reveals that television has grown enough to become an important and an integral part of daily activities in today’s world. It is not surprising that in some cases people may go beyond the actual act of watching it for entertainment. Most of the female respondents are students and married at this stage which show greater degree of influence on their domestic activities and interaction pattern with relatives and friends.