Paper-10 Module-21 Violence against Women as depicted in Films I. (A) Personal Details Role Name Affiliation Principal Investigator Prof. Sumita Parmar Allahabad University, Allahabad Paper Coordinator Prof. Sisir Basu Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Content Writer/Author (CW) Dr.Saswati University of Burdwan, Burdwan Gangopadhyay, Content Reviewer (CR) Prof. Sisir Basu Benaras Hindu University Language Editor (LE) Prof. Sumita Parmar Allahabad University Description of Module Items Description of Module Subject Name Women’s Studies Paper Name Women, Media & Films Module Name/ Title Violence against Women as depicted in Films. Module ID Paper-10 module-21 Pre-requisites The reader needs to have some idea about violence and how gender violence is shown in films. Objectives To make the readers aware about violence against women and the various types of violence on women depicted in films Keywords Violence, Domestic Violence, Rape, Dowry Violence, Sexual Harassment, Eve Teasing 1 Women’s Studies Objectives In the earlier modules of other units, women and film have been discussed from different perspectives. This unit discusses the violence against women as depicted in films in the Indian context. This unit tries to help you understand the following: Explain different types of violence against women in India Describes portrayal of such violence on women as reflected in Indian films Discusses the impact such violent depictions may have on society Introduction In the four earlier units you have acquired familiarity with representation of women in media; media and culture; and new media, women and empowerment. In this unit you will learn about different aspects of films. Films can be read like text if you are aware about the fundamentalsProf. Sumita and Parmar the basics. To understand different types of structures, some help is needed and this unit triesAllahabad to do that University,. Allahabad The focus of thisPrincipal unit will Investigator be to understand the different types of violence that are perpetrated upon women. Paper Coordinator The discussion would be on the most common forms like domestic violence and dowry harassment along with rape and sexual harassment. Further as this unit is on films and women issues, hence we will try to learn about Paper Coordinator the depiction ofContent such violence Writer on women in films and its impact on society. Content Writer Different TypesContent of Violence Reviewer against women Before discussing how violence against women is depicted in films, let us briefly touch upon the different Content Reviewer aspects of violence against women. The word violence from the dictionary meaning implies treatment or conduct proceeding from or caused by or resulting from great physical force or intensely excited feelings or language. In most cases, it is unlawful exercise of physical force and in some cases of mental harassment used against people. Violence is a state which is marked by physical force or roughness upon person/s. It may also cause intense emotional or mental pain in certain cases. 2 Women’s Studies The United Nations’ declaration on the elimination of violence against women, adopted by the General Assembly of the UN in 1993, defines violence against women as: ‘Any act of gender based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. Violence against women shall be understood to encompass but not be limited to: physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family and in the community, including battering, sexual abuse of female children dowry related, violence related to exploitation, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women, forced prostitution and violence perpetrated or condoned by the state.’ Violence against women across the globe has inhibited women as a group from enjoying the basic benefits of human rights and they are at risk of violence because of their gender. Women are subject to violence in the family in different ways like wife beating, sexual abuse of female children, dowry related violence, incest, deprivation of food, marital rape, female genital mutilation, etc. At the community level, violence against women rears its ugly head in the form of rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and trafficking. Sometimes there occurs violence against women induced by the state like women forced to become comfort women for soldiers during wars. Domestic violence is a violent oppression of women within the family. It is perpetrated usually by the husband or partner. Violence may be both physical and psychological. It indicates threat or aggressive behaviour towards a woman not just physically, but towards her self-respect and self confidence as well. Domestic violence is a global phenomenon happening all the time across the world. In India, it has a different dimension, as here, not only the husband, but also his family members especially his mother take active part in inflicting violence on the unfortunate bride. Among the different kinds of crimes against women, this is the most frequent and the least reported crime, as women are reluctant to file charges against persons on whom they may be economically and psychologically dependent. Originally, dowry meant some gifts given willingly to a newly married bride by her family members to set her up comfortably in her new home. However, it is seen that the dowry has been anything but voluntary, where the bridegroom and his family demand gifts and cash and the bride’s family has to comply. Dowry is unfortunately deeply rooted into the socio-economic system in India and is accepted as a part and parcel of 3 Women’s Studies the marriage process by the people. It is based on a view that a woman is not of much value hence some material interests have to be satisfied before she is accepted by her in- laws. She is an object, passed from one social group to another. Her inferior status is reinforced when her matrimonial family accepts her, albeit grudgingly, even when dowry has been paid. Dowry violence is a sinister extension of domestic violence where young brides are tortured or even killed if their families have been unable to satisfy the demands of dowry from the bridegroom’s family. The torture may be mental, physical or both. This crime is particularly prevalent in South Asia and such places where there is a sizeable South Asian diaspora. Rape is the most repulsive crime committed against women worldwide. Women are subjected to forcible sexual act without their consent. In most cases, the women are physically injured and mentally scarred. In deplorable cases of gang rapes, often women succumb to the injuries sustained due to the extreme brutality of the criminal act. Here sex is used as a weapon to subjugate women. Sometimes rape is also used as a tool to dishonour the woman, her family and in many cases the social or religious group she belongs to. Rape is a global menace. Sexual harassment is any form of unwelcome sexual advances by men towards women which may either be direct or through implications. Sometimes, men harass women in public places or workplaces to satisfy their unfulfilled sexual fantasies. The need of this kind of annoying behaviour on the part of men jeopardizes the dignity and safety of women. This is within the patriarchal structure where the power dynamics are played out with male dominance and female subordination. Women from all sections of society all over the world have been at the receiving end of this extremely disturbing and irritating harassment in public places and workplaces or educational institutions at some point of their lives. It is euphemistically called eve teasing in many places. Violence against women has been one of the primary causes for the emergence of the women’s movement in India in the 1970’s. In the initial stages, the women’s groups had the double burden of pressuring the police to take action against perpetrators along with counselling the survivors to come out in the open and talk about the violence they have endured as the patriarchal bias is a major reason for women to keep quiet about their sufferings. The women’s groups have urged in various public forums that violence against women are not private mattes as put out by patriarchal elements but concern society at large. 4 Women’s Studies The women’s groups have campaigned along with some help from mass media to bring this extremely crucial problem to the public domain. The mass media, especially print and electronic media, to some extent, have highlighted the activities of the women’s groups and the causes they have championed. This has helped in keeping these issues in the public domain and led to the creation of public opinion which in turn has led to the formulation of important legislations on women’s issues. Interestingly, many women’s organizations have been critical of how violence against women is depicted in mass media especially popular Indian films. Violence against women in films Films are indeed reflections of reality, maybe with some amount of exaggeration. Hence films that viewers watch, are in many cases inspired by real life incidents. The directors and script writers are part of society and hence they will be influenced by societal events either directly or indirectly. Many events and issues happen in society of which some are positive while some are negative. Amongst the overtly negative happenings in society are the different types of violence perpetrated upon women in society. Some of these forms have been discussed in the earlier section. All these forms in their varying degrees of severity get reflected in films from time to time.