Whether ending the week with an outing with friends or just being in the comfort of our homes for a binge-watch, movies are among the primary picks for people of any age group for recreation. Since movies are watched and followed so religiously, they become a massive influence in our day to day lives. The audience is varied, so is the genre, however, whatever the genre is, one thing that becomes quite cliché in movies is the objectification of human beings based on their genders. One gender which is targeted the most often is the female gender.
Talking about India, even in this 21st century, women are fighting for their independence and safety. Every year, the number of cases related to abuse, especially sexual abuse, increase. According to The Wire, the cases being reported after the outrage of Nirbhaya case show a jump of 26% in 2013 ( which was the highest jump considering the previous decade) and according to Hindustan Times, 30% rise in the reports of sexual assault has been recorded.
The thing that needs to be pondered upon is why the cases are rapidly increasing and why many cases of abuse and harassment have not been reported, both in the past and in the present.
Family pressure, the fear of disrespect in the society, or death threats from the abuser, can be some factors that might help explain this. However, how was this mindset generated in the first place? The answer can perhaps come from one of the biggest influences from the outside world – cinema.
Objectification of women for entertainment is not a novel idea; it has been in use for decades. Whether it is an item song or a scene from the movie, such sights are used to do big business out of the whole film release. Showcasing women as an object to seduce and give pleasure in the sources of entertainment such as cinema and music videos give out the notion that it can be taken as entertainment in real life as well. For example, catcalling, whistling or groping females become relatively normalized. These depictions turn into models for inspiration, and eventually, all the scenarios which have been in practice in the cinema are adopted as it is as social norms. Ultimately, this practice gave birth to rape culture, and unfortunately, it still exists in our world.
Rape culture is that horrendous culture in which social beliefs, attitudes, and morals regularize sexual violence, encourage individuals to associate sex with violence, and diminish the seriousness and significance of sexual abuse. In this culture, sexual violence is accepted, justified, and not confronted by society. Women are made to believe that any sexual assault encounter is their responsibility, and the onus to take accountability is on them. On top of this, this culture also suggests that men cannot be a victim of sexual assault.
The repeated showcase of such practices in cinemas has somehow inculcated these beliefs deep into the minds of the audience, who are the building blocks of the society.
Taking the movies from the 90s, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat and Benaam Badshah showcased that the victim has to marry and settle with the rapist as someone else wouldn’t accept her into their families. It is given as the ultimate solution to save a woman’s dignity. In real life, it is practised by village panchayats and even some judges and lawyers in the name of saving the family’s and the woman's honour. Such storylines romanticize the idea that sexual assault is an acceptable way to start a relationship.
In Kya Kool Hain Hum and Grand Masti, under the genre of comedy movies, women are used as eye candies. 3 Idiots, one extensively appreciated film, used the word ‘balatkaar’ (rape) as a comedy setup to add humour in a particular scene, which also showed a crowd of male members cracking up at the use of the word.
Movies such as Ranjhanaa depict that stalking the 'love of your life' is okay as your 'true' love absolves you of any accountability to your actions, with everything being fair in the pursuit of love. Kabir Singh, a 2019 release romanticised having control on the girlfriend’s life and showcased how abuse is another form of love in a romantic relationship.
In 2016, the film 'Pink' was released, and it was one of its kinds. The ultimate message of the film was strong. It said, 'A woman cannot be considered fair game based on her clothes and lifestyle; and when she says no, it means no, whether she's a stranger, a girlfriend, a wife or even a sex worker.'
If one goes about searching for movies, there will be many we might stumble upon. There is no end to the list of movies where stalkers are glorified, molestation is justified, harassment is normalised, and toxic masculinity is rationalised. The kind of dismissive impact it has on our society has grown extensively, but it also is a matter of perception and knowing how to filter what to take in and how to take it in on the viewers’ end. Although the filmmakers need to focus more on presenting their art in order to entertain and engage the audience by being sensitive towards the issue of abuse, we as the audience also have some responsibility towards the society. There is a need to bring about a shift in the perspective of both the filmmakers and the watchers. We need to understand what is right and what is not. Only we, both the makers and the viewers collaboratively can help this crime out of its occurrence by gaining and sharing knowledge regarding the different sides (physical, mental, emotional, social, etc.) associated with abuse and become more human towards one another
: V.Vaishnavi
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