Derogatory Portrayal of Female Characters in Pakistani Urdu TV Dramas

Abstract

Mass media have acquired an overriding place in the lives of their audience to mold
their thoughts. The present research investigates the derogatory portrayal of female
characters in Pakistani Urdu TV dramas through a comprehensive analysis of their
storyline. Ten top-hit dramas have been taken as the sample. The derogated portrayal
of female characters is explored. It is revealed that, in the selected Pakistani TV dramas,
men treat women as their personal property. The researchers view that the ethnicsocietal structure of the country is based on gender roles which were assigned to both
genders during the evolution of norms therefore such phenomena has intruded into
media presentations e.g. TV dramas. Since media has the power to influence public
opinion, the possible implications of these presentations are prodigious. Further
research can be conducted on ‘media framing’, ‘agenda setting theory’ and the media’s
role related to direct, structural, and cultural influences on gender issues.