Original scientific paper

GENDER AND NATION: TRADITION AND TRANSITION

Valsala Kumari ; Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick

Abstract

Mass media is a major site through which the images of 'Femininity'
is constructed, marketed and perpetuated in India. The world's largest
film industry based in Bombay, known as Bollywood (which is the
answer to Hollywood) is owned by big business men who are highly
patriarchal in their mindset. Since he who pays, calls the tune, it is
not surprising that the patriarchal values of the producers get
reflected in the movies sponsored by them. These constructed
images of femininity as docile, self effacing, sacrificing and chaste
get institutionalized through the most powerful of mass media,
namely the movies. Nevertheless, of late, these traditional
representations of Indian women have been fiercely challenged by
both men and women producers and directors. In order to highlight
the transition I discuss 4 Indian movies, two of them made by two
women of the Indian Diaspora in North America.

Keywords

contemporary Indian film; representations of women

Hrčak ID:

33089

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/33089

Publication date:

9.6.2003.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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