In 2015 an Australian man was accused of stalking a woman and blamed it on Bollywood. At first, I laughed and then I thought back to every movie I had ever watched and came to a shocking realization: He was absolutely right in is way of thinking.

For years, Bollywood films have normalized the hyper sexualization of women as seen in the off-plot song and dance numbers featuring a scantily clad woman who serves no other purpose than to flash some skin and act as a tease. These item girls have always been a part of every Bollywood film to the point where it has become overlooked but it wasn’t until this case come up that I started to analyze the plot of the beloved movies I had come to associate with my childhood.

Up until recently there were little to no female characters who were independent in nature and were characterized as strong. For years, women have played the love interest and are primarily driven by their male counterparts. Men are also characterized by their violence and virility. Combined with the fact that Bollywood rarely discusses issues of gender-related violence and sexual assault (a prevalent issue all across India), the obliviousness to the sensitivity of the issue (nonchalance with rape as it can be tied into comic relief), as well as the normalization of cat-calling and sexual harassment because of a woman’s choice in clothing, Indian men are raised to believe this is appropriate behavior.

When Sandesh Baliga said Bollywood movies had taught him that relentlessly pursuing women was the only way to woo them, he had a legitimate point.

Baliga’s case was an eyeopening experience for prominent figures in Bollywood who began to take action. A famous Indian actor began an campaign called MARD (Men Against Rape and Discrimination) and enlisted other stars to support the movement.

A short film titled “No Country for Women” took Bollywood tropes and juxtaposed them with incidents of rape and gang rape in India which hit home for many.

Pop culture and media has a glaring impact on the youth of today and that is entirely unavoidable. To raise a generation that is respectful of one’s boundaries should not prove to be so difficult but yet Indian film and television make it so. We should make it a priority to boycott misogyny in the media so that young boys and girls and learn to be better people based on what they are exposed to on a daily basis

Signing off,
Joanne