Media Narratives and Violence against Women in A Burning

This paper examines how media representations influence societal views on violence against women, as depicted in Megha Majumdar's novel, A Burning. Applying feminist media theory, representation theory, and trauma theory, the study investigates how media narratives shape public perceptions of gender-based violence. It analyzes how characters in the novel respond to and are affected by media portrayals, highlighting how these portrayals influence victim narratives and societal reactions. This paper makes two key contributions to the understanding of media and gender dynamics: first, it critically examines how media can either reinforce or challenge stereotypes of women. Second, it stresses the importance of responsible media representation to improve understanding of violence against women. This research aims to raise awareness of the impact of media portrayals and promote critical discussions on the topic.

Keywords: Media Representation, Violence against Women, Feminist Theory, Trauma Theory, Social Perception.