Women Representation in Pakistani Television Dramas: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

The current study aims to investigate the representation of women in Pakistani television dramas that reflect the female stereotypical image of women in society. The drama discourse is analyzed through the lens of the critical discourse analysis model by Fairclough (1995). The study explores that women represented in Pakistani dramas are bold or assertive, or they are restricted to conventional norms by male-oriented society. The methodological approach adopted to analyze is suitable to study the independent and dependent variables. The critical discourse analysis model is applied to describe,explain, and interpret the drama discourse. For data analysis, three dramas, “Cheekh” and “Khaani,”have been selected from different Private television channels to ensure the validity of the analysis. The leading female roles in these dramas confront the feminist issues in a patriarchal society. Even in this modern era, Pakistani women are still struggling against odds for injustice and equality, where male-dominated culture is challenging as ever for women to survive. This research will help researchers to work on the different themes of television dramas related to feminist issues.