THE DEPICTION OF WOMEN IN PAKISTANI DRAMAS

Our drama industry is a unique and obscure place full of stereotypes but also full of rare gems, but there is one representation that stands. In our industry women are represented in only two ways, either as villains or as damsels in distress, so it's easy to say that female representation hasn't come that far.

The villainous women are always portrayed as being rich and spoiled. Usually clad in western wear, coming back to the idea of how much our society despises western culture and western wear. This portrayal puts the idea that a girl who doesn't wear cultural clothing or is more Westernized is not of good character, hence is always portrayed as a villain.

On the other hand, the good women of the story, always portrayed in western wear, are studious, quiet, and well-behaved. These women are many times just plot devices or a way for the hero to reach a certain realization. Another factor that is many times added to this character is that they don't usually come from easy situations and many times are saved by the men.

When it comes down to reality, good and bad are just the lack of one another and every person is a mix of both. A good person can do bad things and a bad person can do good things. In our society men are allowed to do bad things hence many times the main heroes and the ‘good male characters’ in our dramas can be players, corrupt politicians, and spoiled rich men, yet they are the good guys but a woman in the same vain will always be the villain, never given a second chance to become better, unlike the male characters. This representation not just proves our societal ideologies, but also sheds light on the way our society perceives women and what is expected from them.