Seeing is Believing: A Sociological Exploration of Violence Against Women on OTT Series and News

With the emergence and growth of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms, there has been a shift in how women are represented and portrayed compared to earlier media platforms such as cinema and television. This shift highlights the nature of women's agency and gender dynamics in a patriarchal setting, often reflected in media. OTT series explicitly address pertinent issues regarding gender inequality and violence, such as child abuse, domestic violence, and rape, in which the survivor herself or another woman comes forward to fight against stigma and injustice. Thus, the portrayal of women in OTT platforms departs from the stereotypical idea of a negotiating woman in Indian media. In this context, the paper explores the following research questions: What are the themes of women’s representation and gender dynamics have changed and sustained in the OTT series? How does the portrayal of female agency differ in the two mediums addressing gender violence? The study applies a qualitative approach, employing content analysis of selected Hindi and Bengali OTT shows - Delhi Crimes (aired on Netflix) and Bodhon (aired on Hoichoi) to make a comparative analysis of the two in terms of the portrayal of violence against women and their agency. Thus, the research contributes to the literature on the intersection between gender and media by unravelling evolving narratives surrounding women in 21st-century Indian media and its implications for the debate around women’s empowerment.

Keywords: Female Representation, Gender Violence, News, OTT Series, India

Gender Based Violence in Ancient Karnataka (With reference to inscriptions and literature)