Dismantling Patriarchy in The Film Texts Barbie And Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani

The structure of patriarchy has firmly rooted itself into the system of the existing society. It has significantly affected the lives of women by justifying the superiority of men and dismissing equal structures. While there has been change in recent years, it has been slow and small, but not insignificant. The system of patriarchy has also disrupted the lives of men. This structure has created an illusion of being in favour of one of the genders while negatively impacting both genders and creating restrictions on both ends, which is to say that patriarchy has not only impacted women negatively, but has also disrupted the lives of men, and has othered other genders.

This paper explores the concept of patriarchy as a structure, its binary nature, and its slow dismantling through the film texts. These film texts are navigated through R.W. Connel’s four types of masculinity, some aspects of Simone De Beauvoir’s The Second Sex, as well as Nivedita Menon’s How Natural Is Normal? Feminism and Compulsory Heterosexuality. The findings reveal how both narratives utilize humour, drama, and cultural commentary to engage audiences in critical discussions about patriarchy. It argues that the film texts serve as catalysts for change, inspiring viewers to reflect on their own perceptions of gender and to envision a more equitable society.

Keywords: Patriarchy, Masculinity, Binary, Heterosexuality, Dismantling, Equality.