Gender Roles in Agriculture based Hindi Films: A Content Analysis

Abstract

India is known as the "land of farmers" and most of its citizens work in agriculture directly or indirectly. Despite being primary food producers globally, women's contributions often go unnoticed. Films play a crucial role in shaping societal perceptions, especially regarding gender roles. However, Indian cinema frequently perpetuates stereotypes, portraying women as subservient to men. Many studies demonstrate that films have a significant influence on people's opinions, particularly their gender orientation. The way women are portrayed in Indian cinema, particularly in terms of their servitude to males, reinforces gender stereotypes about women in Indian society ((Bagchi 1996 and Ram 2002). The present study titled “Gender roles in agriculture based Hindi films: a content analysis” was undertaken with an attempt to explore the representation of men and women in agriculture based Hindi films in terms of their profession, labor division, power dynamics, ownership and access to the resources and the representation of women in agriculture sector. To investigate this, a
study was conducted, analyzing three films: Mother India (1957), Peepli Live (2010), and Kadvi Hawa (2017). The analysis aimed to explore representations of men and women in agriculture, including profession, labor division, and power dynamics. Results highlighted a dearth of Hindi films addressing rural themes like agriculture, with most reinforcing traditional gender norms. Women are often depicted as docile homemakers, while men are portrayed as dominant providers. The study
underscores the need to challenge these stereotypes and recognize women's significant yet overlooked contributions to agriculture.