"Cinema is not the reflection of reality, it is the force that shapes our reality. "What we see on the screen often becomes what we accept as our reality. Movies that exploit women don't just stay in theatres; they shape minds and reinforce inequality."
How often do
we see films where women are victims of violence, and that violence is
sexualized or romanticized? An analysis (from the American Psychological
Association) found
that exposure to sexualized violence in films can increase aggressive behavior
toward women by 20-30%. Films
are not just passive reflections of society; they act as powerful tools to
shape public opinion, trends, and behaviors through the characters, themes,
and messages they present.
Repetition
of harmful behaviors like stalking, harassment, and violence in films can
normalize these actions for viewers, especially young, impressionable
audiences. The glamorous portrayal of problematic behaviors gives them an
aspirational quality, which can lead people to emulate these actions, believing
them to be heroic or desirable.
The sheer
reach of cinema in India, including Tamil films, ensures that the ideas and
behaviors depicted are seen by millions, making films a key cultural force rather
than a passive mirror of society. When people watch violent or aggressive
behavior repeatedly in films primes the brain to react similarly when
encountering similar situations in real life, increasing the likelihood of
acting violently.
to validate my argument, I’m quoting a few of
many such cases where such violent behavior towards women were influenced by
cinema.
In 2016, A
youth was charged with an acid attack on a woman after she rejected his advances.
He stated in his confession that he was influenced by similar scenes from the Tamil
movie "Kadhal".
In 2015, A
man tried to burn his ex-girlfriend alive after she refused to reconcile. He
claimed his actions were motivated by the portrayal of revenge and
possessiveness in the movie Gili.
A recent study (by Massachusetts General Hospital)
found that repeated exposure to violent and sexualized depictions of women
desensitizes men to gender-based violence. Men who frequently watched such
content were 50% more likely to accept and
justify abusive behavior toward women, both in personal relationships and in
society at large.
Movies are
not just entertainment; they are cultural artifacts that shape how we view
ourselves and others. As creators and consumers, it is our responsibility to
demand better representation. Let’s push for stories where women are seen as complete
human beings—intelligent, strong, and multifaceted. Because when we change the
narrative on screen, we can begin to change it in the real world.
Thank you.
