Research Symposium

BIO

Greetings! My name is Dayjah Cesar a second year junior here at the Florida State University. I am honored to be a part of the undergraduate research opportunity program. I have a love for healthcare and health care administration, and I can not wait to see where the future takes me..

PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN FEMALE- DIRECTED BOLLYWOOD FILMS

Abstract

Films both reflect and shape cultural perceptions, making their portrayal of female characters a lens through
which Indian society and the Bollywood industry’s evolution can be examined.
• With relatively few female directors in Bollywood, their approach to storytelling may differ, particularly in how
women are represented on screen. This study investigates whether films directed by women depict female
characters differently by analyzing their presence, portrayal, and interactions within these narratives.
•Additionally, our surveys provide anecdotal evidence supporting this shift. For instance, in Lapatta Ladies, one
of the central characters, Jaya, breaks away from the typical female roles. Instead of being confined to societal
expectations, she is portrayed as a woman gaining an education and surpassing the boundaries set by her
community.
•Figures 1 and 2 highlight a key trend: in films directed by women, a substantial percentage (32% and 22.35%) of
women characters experience personal satisfaction. Furthermore, Figure 3 reveals that these films are more
likely to depict women forming personal relationships with other women (36%). These findings confirm the
hypothesis that Bollywood movies directed by women tend to break free from rigid societal gender roles, offering
a more liberated and empowering portrayal of women.
• To generate measurable data, the study utilizes a method called “coding,” which involves systematically
documenting key aspects of each speaking female character in selected films. This includes details such as
demographics, attire, gendered behavior, and interactions with other women.

Keywords: Bollywood , film, gender roles