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Sexism in Bollywood refers to gender discrimination and stereotyping prevalent in the Hindi film industry of India, commonly known as Bollywood. This includes the portrayal of women in films, gender disparities behind the camera, and broader issues of representation and bias. [1]
The portrayal of women in Bollywood has evolved significantly since the industry's inception. Early Bollywood films often depicted women in stereotypical and subordinate roles, reflecting the patriarchal values of Indian society at the time.[ citation needed ]
In the early years of Bollywood, women were often depicted as virtuous and self-sacrificing figures, conforming to traditional gender roles. They were primarily shown as devoted wives, mothers, and daughters who upheld family honor and values.[ citation needed ] Films like Mother India (1957) exemplified this trend, portraying women as the backbone of the family and the nation. [2]
The 1970s and 1980s saw a shift towards more complex portrayals of women, although they were still often confined to traditional roles. During this period, women were frequently depicted as suffering silently and enduring hardships, only to be redeemed through male intervention or supernatural means. [3] Films like Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) and Jai Santoshi Maa (1975) highlighted this trend, portraying women as virtuous and patient figures who ultimately found happiness through conformity to societal norms. [2]
The 1990s introduced a blend of traditional and modern portrayals of women. While some films continued to depict women in stereotypical roles, others began to show women as more independent and career-oriented, though still often subordinate to men. [4] Films like Mohra (1994) showcased women in strong roles but often reduced their characters to visual appeal and dance sequences.
In recent decades, there has been a significant shift towards more nuanced and empowered portrayals of women in Bollywood. Female characters are increasingly depicted as strong, independent, and central to the narrative. This change has been driven by the emergence of female filmmakers and actors who have challenged traditional gender norms. [5] Films like Queen (2014), Pink (2016), and Chhapaak (2020) have highlighted women's issues and showcased female protagonists in leading roles.[ citation needed ]
Numerous Bollywood actresses have spoken out about the significant pay disparity in the industry. For instance, Lara Dutta has highlighted that actresses are often paid only one-tenth of what male actors earn. [6] Similarly, Kriti Sanon has expressed her frustration over the significant pay gap, noting that some male actors earn ten times more than their female co-stars, even when their recent performances do not justify such differences. [7]
Prominent actresses such as Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone have also voiced their concerns regarding pay inequality. Despite their box-office success and international recognition, they have reported being paid significantly less than their male co-stars. [8] Chopra, for example, revealed that she was paid only 10 percent of what her male co-actors earned. [9]
The pay gap is not limited to a few high-profile cases but is a widespread issue across the industry. Historical instances, such as Karan Johar dropping Kareena Kapoor from Kal Ho Na Ho for asking for equal pay as Shah Rukh Khan, illustrate the entrenched nature of this disparity. [8] Actresses like Kangana Ranaut have also demanded equal pay following their successful films, yet the industry has been slow to change. [8]
The pay gap also affects the production of female-led films. Producers often allocate smaller budgets for films featuring female leads, which can result in actresses taking pay cuts to ensure the film's completion. [7] This unequal investment further perpetuates the cycle of pay disparity and limits opportunities for female actors to take on leading roles.
There is a growing movement within Bollywood to address and rectify the gender pay gap. Actresses, filmmakers, and activists are increasingly vocal about the need for equitable pay and representation. Some progress has been made, with female-led films achieving box-office success and challenging traditional industry norms. [8]
Ageism intersects with sexism in Bollywood, with older female actors having fewer opportunities compared to their male counterparts. [1]
Bollywood films, given their widespread popularity, play a significant role in shaping and reinforcing societal norms and attitudes towards gender roles. [10]
The portrayal of women in Bollywood has been linked to the promotion of certain beauty standards, including a preference for lighter skin tones. [11]
In recent years, there has been a rise in woman-centric films that challenge traditional narratives and stereotypes. [1] Examples include:
There is growing awareness and discussion about sexism in Bollywood, both within the industry and among audiences. [1]
Activists, filmmakers, and some industry insiders are calling for more diverse representation and equitable practices in Bollywood. [1]
Several academic studies have examined sexism and gender representation in Bollywood:
Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on one's sex or gender. Sexism can affect anyone, but primarily affects women and girls. It has been linked to gender roles and stereotypes, and may include the belief that one sex or gender is intrinsically superior to another. Extreme sexism may foster sexual harassment, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. Discrimination in this context is defined as discrimination toward people based on their gender identity or their gender or sex differences. An example of this is workplace inequality. Sexism refers to violation of equal opportunities based on gender or refers to violation of equality of outcomes based on gender, also called substantive equality. Sexism may arise from social or cultural customs and norms.
The gender pay gap in the United States is a measure comparing the earnings of men and women in the workforce. The average female annual earnings is around 80% of the average male's. When variables such as hours worked, occupations chosen, and education and job experience are controlled for, the gap diminishes with females earning 95% as much as males. The exact figure varies because different organizations use different methodologies to calculate the gap. The gap varies depending on industry and is influenced by factors such as race and age. The causes of the gender pay gap are debated, but popular explanations include the "motherhood penalty," hours worked, occupation chosen, willingness to negotiate salary, and gender bias.
Gender inequality is the social phenomenon in which people are not treated equally on the basis of gender. This inequality can be caused by gender discrimination or sexism. The treatment may arise from distinctions regarding biology, psychology, or cultural norms prevalent in the society. Some of these distinctions are empirically grounded, while others appear to be social constructs. While current policies around the world cause inequality among individuals, it is women who are most affected. Gender inequality weakens women in many areas such as health, education, and business life. Studies show the different experiences of genders across many domains including education, life expectancy, personality, interests, family life, careers, and political affiliation. Gender inequality is experienced differently across different cultures.
Occupational sexism is discrimination based on a person's sex that occurs in a place of employment.
Role congruity theory proposes that a group will be positively evaluated when its characteristics are recognized as aligning with that group's typical social roles. Conversely, the stereotype fit hypothesis suggests that group members will experience discrimination in different social roles or positions to the extent that their group stereotypically does not have characteristics associated with success in the position. For instance, women may not be considered a good fit for a managerial position if being aggressive is seen as a characteristic of a successful manager. Due to stereotype fit, men may be considered more qualified for the position and are not only more likely to be hired, but are also more likely to be promoted as well.
The portrayal of gender in video games, as in other media, is a subject of research in gender studies and is discussed in the context of sexism in video gaming. Although women make up about half of video game players, they are significantly underrepresented as characters in mainstream games, despite the prominence of iconic heroines such as Samus Aran or Lara Croft. Women in games often reflect traditional gender roles, sexual objectification, or stereotypes such as the "damsel in distress". Male characters are frequently depicted as big and muscular, and LGBT characters have been slow to appear due to the cis-heteronormativity of the medium.
Women are often under-represented in the academic and professional fields of engineering; however, many women have contributed to the diverse fields of engineering historically and currently. A number of organizations and programs have been created to understand and overcome this tradition of gender disparity. Some have decried this gender gap, saying that it indicates the absence of potential talent. Though the gender gap as a whole is narrowing, there is still a growing gap with minority women compared to their white counterparts. Gender stereotypes, low rates of female engineering students, and engineering culture are factors that contribute to the current situation where men dominate in fields relating to engineering sciences.
The exploitation of women in mass media is the use or portrayal of women in mass media such as television, film, music, and advertising as objects or sexual beings, in order to increase the appeal of media or a product to the detriment of the women being portrayed, and women in society. This process includes the presentation of women as sexual objects and the setting of feminine beauty ideals that women are expected to reflect. Sexual exploitation of women in the media dates back to 19th century Paris, in which ballerinas were exposed to harassment and objectification. The most often criticized aspect of the use of women in mass media is sexual objectification, but dismemberment can be a part of the objectification as well. The exploitation of women in mass media has been criticized by feminists and other advocates of women's rights, and is a topic of discussion in feminist studies and other fields of scholarship.
Internalized sexism is a form of sexist behavior and attitudes enacted by women toward themselves or other women and girls. Internalized sexism is a form of internalized oppression, which "consists of oppressive practices that continue to make the rounds even when members of the oppressor group are not present." Internalized sexism can have a range of effects on women and girls such as problems with mental health and body image. Modes of internalization of sexism include early childhood inculturation and consumption of media, especially of celebrity and entertainment news.
Sexism in video gaming is prejudiced behavior or discrimination based on sex or gender as experienced by people who play and create video games, primarily women. This may manifest as sexual harassment or in the way genders are represented in games, such as when characters are presented according to gender-related tropes and stereotypes.
Women in positions of power are women who hold an occupation that gives them great authority, influence, and/or responsibility in government or in businesses. Historically, power has been distributed among the sexes disparately. Power and powerful positions have most often been associated with men as opposed to women. As gender equality increases, women hold more and more powerful positions in different sectors of human endeavors.
Gender plays a role in mass media and is represented within media platforms. These platforms are not limited to film, radio, television, advertisement, social media, and video games. Initiatives and resources exist to promote gender equality and reinforce women's empowerment in the media industry and representations. For example, UNESCO, in cooperation with the International Federation of Journalists, elaborated the Gender-sensitive Indicators for Media contributing to gender equality and women's empowerment in all forms of media.
Feminist children's literature is the writing of children's literature through a feminist lens. Children's literature and women's literature have many similarities. Both often deal with being seen as weak and placed towards the bottom of a hierarchy. In this way feminist ideas are regularly found in the structure of children's literature. Feminist criticism of children's literature is therefore expected, since it is a type of feminist literature. Feminist children's literature has played a critical role for the feminist movement, especially in the past half century. In her book Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics, bell hooks states her belief that all types of media, including writing and children's books, need to promote feminist ideals. She argues "Children's literature is one of the most crucial sites for feminist education for critical consciousness precisely because beliefs and identities are still being formed". The cover of hooks' book, drawn by Laura DeSantis, depicts children alongside adults, showing the importance of the youth. The presence of feminism in children's literature has evolved over the years, but the overall message and goals have remained consistent.
Inequality in Hollywood refers to the various forms of discrimination and social inequality in the American media industry. There are many branches of the media industry, such as news, television, film, music, agencies, studios, to name some of the major players. In each one of these branches, there are many instances of inequality since Hollywood formed as the entertainment hub of America in the early 1900s.
Women are involved in the film industry in all roles, including as film directors, actresses, cinematographers, film producers, film critics, and other film industry professions, though women have been underrepresented in creative positions.
The Geena Davis Institute is a US nonprofit organization based in Marina del Rey, California, led by President and Chief Executive Officer Madeline Di Nonno and chaired by Davis. It operates on a philosophy of gathering and sharing data instead of blaming studios for lack of equal representation in an effort to effect change.
Gender disparity in computing concerns the disparity between the number of men in the field of computing in relation to the lack of women in the field. Originally, computing was seen as a female occupation. As the field evolved, so too did the demographics, and the gender gap shifted from female dominated to male dominated. The believed need for more diversity and an equal gender gap has led to public policy debates regarding gender equality. Many organizations have sought to create initiatives to bring more women into the field of computing.
Sexism in American political elections refers to how sexism impacts elections in the United States, ranging from influences on the supply, demand, and selection of candidates to electoral outcomes. Sexism is inherently a product of culture, as culture instills a certain set of beliefs or expectations for what constitutes appropriate behavior, appearance, or mannerisms based on a person's sex. Sexism in American political elections is generally cited as a socially-driven obstacle to female political candidates, especially for non-incumbents, raising concerns about the representation of women in the politics of the United States. Such prejudice can take varying forms, such as benevolent or hostile sexism—the latter stemming from fears of women threatening the power or leadership of men.
Gender discrimination in health professions refers to the entire culture of bias against female clinicians, expressed verbally through derogatory and aggressive comments, lower pay and other forms of discriminatory actions from predominantly male peers. These women face difficulties in their work environment as a result of a largely male dominated positions of power within the medical field as well as initial biases presented in the hiring process, but not limited to promotions.
Gender pay gap in sports is the persistence of unequal pay in sports, particularly for female athletes who do not receive equal revenue compared to their counterparts, which differs depending on the sport. According to the research conducted by BBC, "a total of 83% of sports now reward men and women equally". However, it does not mean that the wage gap in sports has narrowed or disappeared. In 2018, Forbes released the list of the top 100 highest-paid athletes, all of them being male athletes. A similar situation also occurred in 2017, where there was only one female athlete – tennis player Serena Williams — who joined the list and ranked No.56. Billie Jean King brought awareness to the issue of unequal pay in the early 1970s, when she was awarded $2,900 less than her male counterpart at the Italian Open. The timeline of the gender pay gap in sports displays the significant events that have occurred since the 1970s