How Do Soap Operas Portray Families and Relationships Between Men and Women

Abstract

The Eastern society has come a long way in terms of progress and development. Yet, gender inequality is an consequence that still needs to be addressed. Although many women in these places have attained greater heights, majority of women in these areas yet find education and career evolution a struggle. In this report, we analyze the media portrayal of the educational qualification and career choices of the female person characters of the soap operas. We consider soap operas broadcast by Hum TV during the prime time and analyze the extent to which gender biasing even so exists in terms of educational activity and career. Nosotros seek to highlight how a positive portrayal of women in lather operas tin effectively change perceptions and promote the independence of women with respect to career and teaching in real situations.

I. Introduction

Soap operas predominantly accept a female audience. Women are stereotyped in these serials, and are depicted without a phonation or stance to brand their own decisions related to their education or employment. They are depicted as subservient, insecure and meek. Soap operas undoubtedly accept immense potential to influence the audience by presenting an empowered modern woman. Despite having attained progress in diverse areas of society, gender equality is one grey surface area where our Eastern order still hasn't witnessed much success or change. Soap operas, being a very pop genre of entertainment amongst the eastern audience, play a very influencing role in the gild. The study aims to highlight the existing portrayal of women in soap operas. The research questions that the paper addresses are:

• What role does education play in the lives of womencharacters portrayed on TV?

• How oriented are they towards making their owndecisions about their choice of career?

The answers to these enquiry questions will aid in analyzing the images that women are portrayed in and what measures must be taken that would atomic number 82 to the empowerment of women in the eastern society.

Empowerment

The Oxford English language Dictionary defines empowerment as the procedure of becoming stronger and more confident, specially in controlling one's life and challenge one's rights.

Empowerment truly intends to brand somebody powerful, to encourage the powerless to increase strength, to make somebody equipped for facing persecution and unfairness and to battle against roughness and misuse The empowerment of women can only materialize if both men and women have the same rights and privileges and the same opportunities, not only in the external sphere of work and rights just also within their personal lives likewise.. (Ahmed and Khalid, 2012)

Rappaport (1987:121) describes empowerment every bit "a psychological sense of personal control or influence and a concern with bodily social influence, political power, and legal rights. Information technology is a multilevel construct applicable to individual citizens besides as to organizations and neighborhoods." Another definition describes empowerment equally "an intentional, ongoing process centered in the local community, involving common respect, critical reflection, caring and group participation, through which people lacking an equal share of valued resource gain greater access to and control over those resource."(Cornell Empowerment Group 1989:ii).

Empowerment is a process which changes existing power relations by addressing itself to the three dimensions - material, human and intellectual resources. It is a process which must challenge and change ideology, the set of ideas, attitudes, behavior and practices in which gender bias or social bias like caste, grade, regionalism and communalism are embedded. The failure to address the ideology makes many empowerment programs ineffective in changing gender relations in the long term. (Ahmed and Khalid, 2012)

For some it could pb to a perception of command over their lives while for others it may mean actual control (Rappaport 1987; Young 1994); it could be an internalized attitude or an externally observable behavior; it could be an individual achievement (Zimmerman 1990; Zimmerman and Rappaport 1988), a customs experience (Chavis and Wandersman 1990), or a professional intervention using strategies that are informed by local realities

Mass Media and Women's Empowerment

Mass media are regarded every bit powerful intervening factors in the procedure of modernization and social development. The question that needs to be critically analyzed and examined is whether the contemporary media are all the same aware of their basic functions – inform, educate and entertain people. Media as the spotter dog of society have the responsibility of keeping an middle on the social changes in the major social institutions and their sub-systems. Women's empowerment should bring a situation where women can apply their fullest potential and capacity to construct a better man society for all and media has a critical role to play in responding to these processes. Media commitment and support are seen as necessary for social reform and various movements towards achieving a meliorate equality of life for women..

Media are very effective, powerful and influential in disseminating new knowledge, useful for behavior change amidst women, thus influencing women'due south empowerment variables equally well.Exposure to media, especially television set because of its visual attribute causes knowledge accumulation and behavior change amid women reflecting the participation of women in decision – making, inter family advice and function-negotiation of women at home which tin can help in achieving better quality of life.(Ahmed and Khalid, 2012)

Margaret Gallagher (1978 and 1979) noted that overall media handling of women can best be described as narrow…women are rarely portrayed equally rational active or decisive…Underlying practically all media images is a dichotomous motif which defines women as either perfectly adept wholly evil , female parent or whore, virgin or call girl, fifty-fifty tradition or modern.Fernandez (1992) contends that the media generally subvert women'due south positions and act to preserve the dominant values of social club.

When defining and agreement female person empowerment, power is the central word from which the definition and understanding accept to depart. The power construction in which to intervene to empower women must exist known to exist able to create a sustainable change. But access and command over resources do not explain command over power relations. (Ahmed and Khalid, 2012)

Investing in women capabilities and empowering them to exercise their choices is not only valuable in information technology but is also the most reliable way to contribute to economic growth and overall development (Un, 1995).

Women and Lather Operas:

Soap operas are part of the everyday lives of their audience. They have successfully been able to present the everyday happenings and as well form a part of the cultural exchange which goes on in both the abode and the work place. Fiction is inter-woven with events in the "real" world- both those directly experienced by the viewers and those which have been reported in the media. The popularity of soap-opera rests on its undemanding nature and its preoccupation with everyday concerns (Livingstone, 1990; 56). This could perchance be the reason responsible for its immense popularity equally a genre of television programming.

Lather opera tin contribute to the process of changes at two levels. The first level is that of generating a thinking function of women. The meanings derived from the knowledge of soaps claiming the ascendant discourses almost the function of women in the family, on the silencing of women's vocalisation, on the social expectations of women's behavior and about the power of women'due south relationship with other members of society. Aspects like the pleasure of close-knit family, wear styles, elaborate wedding spectacles, continue to have a meaning in the life of women. These resistive readings are enveloped in subtle contradictions and are not obvious to a casual observer. The 2d level is that despite its public negative evaluation, women find time and space for these soaps in their lives. Information technology provides for experiences, learning and pleasance for women in which feminine discourse can be spoken of and appreciated.

Feminine having characteristics associated with the cultural office of women and not men. Numerous quantitative content assay have shown that women hardly announced in the mass media, be it depicted as wife female parent, daughter, girlfriend; every bit working in traditionally female jobs (secretarial assistant, nurse, receptionist); or as sex object. Moreover they are usually young and beautiful, merely non very well educated feminists have been in the forefront of exposing male abuse of women and politicizing issues formerly considered as individual sexual violence wife battering………..sex terrorism and tray ticking in women. Skonrina, (1977) reported.

We see so many severe acts of violence through the media that small-scale acts, such as pushing or grabbing, may not exist consciously noticed at all. We have go desensitized to the nigh mild and frequently used acts of physical assailment.

"In the intervening years feminist work has documented and analyzed the multifarious forms of violent attacks confronting women but because they are women." Hanmer ,C. J., and. Maynard, Thousand.(1987), Roxana Carillo (1992), Margaret Schuler (1992), Jessie Tellis Nayak (1989).In our male dominated social gear up the Radicalism is more than pertinent and relevant, because at present the equal status is more preached than practiced. It is giving the equal condition to both sexes, which is non depicted in our dramas, and this is non acceptable to our social norms. In the male dominated society female are treated equally much inferior and are considered to exist always submissive and obedient. (Pervez and Roshan, 2010).

Two. Methodology

A. Method:

The written report analyzes the career orientation of the female person characters portrayed past Hum Tv set in their soap operas.

B. Design:

The written report chooses content analysis as a research design to discover the patterns of self determination making choices with reference to their education and careers presented past Hum Tv set in the portrayal of its female person characters.

C. Content Analysis:

The method of content assay will exist usedto discover the arrangement of career choices, educational qualification and their control over their lives.

Content Analysis is depicted every bit the experimental investigation of substance of communication. Information technology is the investigation of the substance with reference to the implications, settings and expectations contained in messages.

Farther, content examination falls in the interface of perception and record examination.Appropriately, information technology is additionally considered equally a subtle or non-reactive strategy for social research.

Along these lines, content investigation is most making substantial, replicable and target deductions about the bulletin on the premise of unequivocal guidelines. The material for the substance examination tin can be letters, journals, daily paper content, music, short stories, and letters of Radio, Television receiver, records, writings or any images.

D. Population:

A research population is also known equally a well-defined collection of individuals or objects known to accept similar characteristics. All individuals or objects inside a sure population usually have a mutual, binding characteristic or trait. In this case, the population consists of women within the working historic period, that is, between historic period group 15-50.

In this study, soaps broadcast by Hum Telly are taken every bit the population of the study with the sample consisting of soap operas existence shown from Jan to September 2014 during Prime number Fourth dimension -vii:00pm to ten:00 pm.

The names of the soap operas are:

1. a.

   Mohabbat Subh ka Sitara Hai

2. b.

   Main Dewani

3. c.

   Kissay Apna Kahein

4. d.

   Shab Eastward Zindagi

5. e.

   Kahani Raima Aur Manahil Ki

6. f.

   Izterab

7. 1000.

   Laa

8. h.

   Janam Jali

E. Unit of Analysis:

All female characters within the working age range featured in the in a higher place mentioned soap operas will be considered equally the unit of measurement of analysis.

F. Content Category:

• Educational Qualification of Characters

• Career Choice

• Trend in Submissive or Assertive Nature of Characters

• Insecurity in Marital Life

G. Cursory Clarification of the Serials used for case study:

a. Mohabbat Subh Ka Sitara

Mohabat Subh Ka Sitara Hai is a drama serial containing elements of family drama, tragedy and romance. The story is primarily told in a serialized manner, featuring each episode of Romaisa'southward fate in love, respect and life.

b. Main Dewani

The story revolves effectually a girl named Hadia suffering from a mental disorder called anotomina. She has an combative behavior towards life and ends up doing things which are never expected from her.

c. Kissay Apna Kahein

Kisay Apna Kahen highlights the tribulations of a center-grade family. "Kisay Apna Kahen" focuses on human psychology, greed, beloved and issues existing in our club.

d. Shab eastward Zindagi

Shab e Zindagi deals with the impact greed tin can have on relations and the troubles faced past widowed women in our society.

e. Kahani Raima aur Manahil ki

It revolves around the lives of two couples. The serial is a comedy tale focusing on how the 2 sort out their lives, and try their best to become what they want.

f. Izterab

The story tells the tale of Zara, a liberal woman married to a conservative homo, Jahnzaib. It showcases the struggles faced by working women in our lodge and the ease with which a second marriage can take place in our Asian society.

g. Laa

The story portrays the feudal organization that still prevails in countries like Pakistan and the how the system is against the teachings of Islam.

h. Janam Jali

The story shows the gender biasing that notwithstanding persists in our order and how it hasn't inverse despite progressing in and so many fields,

Three. Observation Table

Full size table

Iv. Inference

A. Less focus on the educational qualification or career choices of women:

From the above observations, it can be inferred that nigh 70% of the portrayed female characters don't have a specified educational qualification. Women in these shows are seldom depicted every bit highly qualified or as holders of executive positions in an organization. Likewise, the most preferred qualification expressed in these shows is a degree in Arts. No inclination is shown towards other branches such as science or commerce. Majority of the female characters are portrayed equally docile or submissive, who neither accept a say in their own lives or the lives of their children.

B. Preference of Male child:

In most Pakistani dramas, the preference for a male childis ascendant.

Women without a boy are often shown to be considered weak in the society, and bear the constant pressure to give a heir to the family unit. If they are unable to give a heir, the danger of the husband remarrying for the sake of a son often looms

C. The Other Adult female:

Another major common signal betwixt Pakistanidramas is that, the woman always has to exist wary of other women. When a man is settled, there is always a high probability of him getting lured towards some other adult female and a remarriage.

The third wheel has been shown to insolently intermission houses and men never seem to think of their family unit before taking a harsh step of re-marrying another adult female.

The insecurity of another adult female entering her human'south life always looms over her head and she always has to exist her all-time in order to delight her hubby and foreclose him from leaving.

D. Women are shown to accept piffling or no say indecision making:

Pakistani TV promotes the notion that women are only meant to look after the firm and bear no responsibility in running the family. A girl from a very tender age is idea to practice the business firm chores, giving moderate importance to education. She is expected to be submissive and follow the whims and fancies of her married man and in-laws.

E Daughters are treated every bit a brunt:

Bulk of the serials portray girl as a brunt, a neighbor'due south cow that has to be fed and helplessness of the parent'due south is high-lighted.

Marrying the daughter off only seems to exist the main aim of the family and the type of human being she ends up with is barely a matter to question.

Five.Determination

The dominating patriarchal prepare rarely allows the other gender to progress and to stand for their own cause. Such a trend therefore, leads to a society that accord derogatory position to women in practice.

Pakistan can exist taken as a classical example.

According to the World Economical Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2012, Pakistan ranked 134th out of 135 countries5 (Earth Economical Forum, 2012: 9), among the worst places for women in the globe. The recent report of United Nationsl Evolution Program (UNDP), ranked Pakistan at 123 out of 148 countries in the 2012 Gender Inequality Alphabetize (GII) (UNDP, 2013). In add-on, low female person literacy rate is one of the principal causes of women's all round deprivation and violence as experienced by them. Information technology besides causes low participation in the political, economic and social activities. They cannot accomplish their rights and compete for available opportunities in the job market. This state of affairs has led to the social and economical dependence of women which in plow ensures male domination in social club (Kazmi, 2005: 94).

Over the years, at that place has been a lot of biasing betwixt the male and the female person genders onscreen. The roles assigned to both the genders have largely been stereotypical. Males are commonly portrayed as strong, aggressive, dominating and efficient whereas females, in majority of the shows are showcased as weak, emotional and subservient, whose only duty is to obey to the whims and commands of the males in her family unit.Majority of the female characters are shown to possesses piffling or no educational and are always submissive to the males in the family. This ruins the potential of soap operas a developmental tool in the lodge.

Every bit observed in the research methodology, a large number of soap operas portray women in a darker calorie-free even though the main gender they cater to is women. It can be seen that 'skilful' women are portrayed as sensitive, docile and uneducated, who just have the aim of looking after their family and bear no ability or rights to take any decision by or for themselves. The 'bad' adult female is portrayed as outgoing, rebellious, contained and selfish. She doesn't give all her time and attending to her family unit and doesn't adhere to the orders of the males in the family.

Although soap operas take enormous potential to nowadays ideologies and notions that bear on the club in a positive mode and crusade its reformation, it is very seldom that this potential is harnessed.

Lather operas can be used every bit a powerful medium to promote education of women and intolerance to the dominating patriarchy in the society. However, as presented in the research, majority of the lather operas neglect to project the character of a strong, independent and educated woman.

Soap operas must focus on being the medium that promotes the development and upliftment of women in the society. Instead of portraying characters that submit themselves to male authority, characters that live up for themselves and represent their rights must be promoted. This will enable the mindsets of various sections in social club to modify and human activity as a huge factor in removing gender biasing.

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Affiliations

1. Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

   Mubeena Iqbal & Khairunnisa Abdar

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© The Author(s) 2016. This article is published with open access by the GSTF.

Dr. Mubeena Iqbal, Assistant Professor Birla Institute of Engineering science and Science Pilani, Dubai.

Khairunnisa Abdar, Placement Coordinator Birla Constitute of Technology and Scientific discipline Pilani, Dubai.

Authors' profile

Mubeena Iqbal, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Birla Establish of Technology and Science, Dubai Campus. Her research interests are in the areas of Business Communication and International English. She as well takes interest in Visual Media and Social Media Communications.

Khairunnisa Abdar is a graduate in Informatics Engineering science from Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani, Dubai Campus. Along with her engineering science expertise she takes not bad interest in Media and Journalism. she has carried out extensive report on this topic as a part of her research project undertaken in her final twelvemonth under the supervision of Dr. Mubeena Iqbal.

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Iqbal, M., Abdar, K. Soap operas: A Potential tool for women empowerment. GSTF J Media Commun 3, two (2016). https://doi.org/10.7603/s40874-016-0002-z

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• Published: 27 September 2016

• DOI : https://doi.org/10.7603/s40874-016-0002-z

Keywords

• women empowerment
• soap operas
• gender inequality
• didactics
• career
• male patriarchy
• Hum TV
• Pakistani Serials

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