Redefining Gender Roles Through Lived Experiences, Not Cinematic Narratives

Indian cinema has long been a mirror of the socio-cultural scenario of the country. From epics to social comments, films have shaped stories, influenced social discourse, and challenged social beliefs. While some films entertain only, others raise important questions, which give rise to debate about gender, class and identity. However, in recent times, the industry appears to be divided - some films carry forward the conceptual agenda, while others try to show strict realities with authenticity.

One such recent film, Mrs., tries to highlight the daily struggles of housewives. The story revolves around Richa, who is a trained dancer and marries a gynecologist named Diwakar. Richa, coming from the high-middle class background, was initially optimistic about her new life. However, he soon felt on her responsibility imposed as “patriarchal expectation”. Her in -laws expect her to handle all domestic work, including cooking, cleaning and care. Her husband measures her value with her ability to handle domestic responsibilities, who were gradually weakening her self-identity. The film outlines the challenges faced by women in patriarchal homes, highlighting gender roles and expectations.

While the film raises an important issue, it mainly represents an elite class of society. According to World Bank data, by 2021, about 12.9 percent of the population was living less than `180 per day. This number is equal to about 18 crores. In addition, about 44 percent of the population was living below low medium -income poverty line. When the top 10 percent of the population holds 77 percent of the total national assets, while the lower 50 percent have only 1 percent, so stories like “Mrs. (MRS)” presents only a glimpse of the real life of a limited class of Indian women.

On the other hand, the viral picture of a female constable, which is tied to her child on the railway platform while doing her duty, presents a clear contradiction with the cinematic depiction of women’s struggles. This picture represents the perseverance and strength of working mothers who balance professional responsibilities with care. This raises an important question - why is the mainstream cinema focusing on patriarchal oppression, is it not all for any discussion? Whereas often ignore the stories of everyday women that redefine gender roles through their life experiences?

The real life of most Indian women is beyond the four walls of a privileged house. Women across the country are engaged in many roles - work in fields, factories, offices and informal areas, as well as performing responsibilities at home. According to the periodic Labor Force Survey 2022, the Women’s Labor Force Participation Rate in India was around 32.8 percent, with a significant percentage from informal and unorganized sectors. More than 80 percent of the workforce in agriculture and about 50 percent of women in construction, often face lack of salary inequality and social security. These women not only face everyday struggle; She fights daily poverty, economic instability and systemic neglect.

However, cinema fails extensively to catch this complexity. Films often show women either as harassed housewives or as corporate professionals struggling to balance work and family. Vishal spectrum of experiences - rural women who run small businesses, female workers who work hard to survive, or migrant women who work tirelessly in cities - are largely absent from mainstream stories. This selective representation creates an incomplete understanding of gender roles in Indian society.

In addition, mainstream films often make renunciation romantic. The ideal woman is portrayed as a person who quietly suffers oppression or fights against it only within a certain socially accepted structure. The actual empowerment, however, is far more dynamic. It lies in the stories of women who make their own way - whether it is a domestic worker who ensures education to her children, a nurse that works late at night, or a street vendor who despite all obstacles She runs her small business. Their struggles and victory should be found as much a place in telling cinematic story as the stories of elite urban families.

The need for diverse stories is more important than ever. Indian cinema must develop to portray a more comprehensive plot-which not only highlights genderbased conflicts, but also shows the strength, patience and contribution of women in diverse socioeconomic realities. Attention should be done by removing women as passive victims and identifying them as active agents of change, breaking workplaces, homes and beyond obstacles. A balanced cinematic depiction will inspire a more subtle understanding of gender roles and contribute to a more equitable society.

This is true - cinema is eventually entertainment, but the stories that it portrays leaves a permanent impact on society. It is the responsibility of the filmmakers to consider the audience thoughtfully, ensure that the entertainment does not strengthen limited stereotypes, but inspires the contemplation. The balance between storytelling and responsible representation can improve the approach. Cinema should move beyond the forecasted trops of women suffering and discover the flexibility, ambition and change that real women display every day. Only then can it be really a mirror of society - not only reflecting, but also giving a more inclusive and representative future.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Gajendra Singh, The writer is Social Thinker and Social Investment Experts