[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so a few years ago I visited my family
so a few years ago I visited my family
so a few years ago I visited my family in India the first day I distinctly
in India the first day I distinctly
in India the first day I distinctly remember that I went down to the corner
remember that I went down to the corner
remember that I went down to the corner market with my cousin and while we were
market with my cousin and while we were
market with my cousin and while we were just purchasing our snacks I noticed
just purchasing our snacks I noticed
just purchasing our snacks I noticed that a few guys across the street were
that a few guys across the street were
that a few guys across the street were just staring at me they wouldn’t look
just staring at me they wouldn’t look
just staring at me they wouldn’t look away and it made me feel really
away and it made me feel really
away and it made me feel really uncomfortable I noticed that this kept
uncomfortable I noticed that this kept
uncomfortable I noticed that this kept happening throughout the rest of my time
happening throughout the rest of my time
happening throughout the rest of my time I was there and if I would go to stores
I was there and if I would go to stores
I was there and if I would go to stores I noticed that I would be greeted
I noticed that I would be greeted
I noticed that I would be greeted differently than my male family members
differently than my male family members
differently than my male family members or if I stayed in my opinion too loudly
or if I stayed in my opinion too loudly
or if I stayed in my opinion too loudly random people would just glare at me I
random people would just glare at me I
random people would just glare at me I had seen this in Bollywood movies but
had seen this in Bollywood movies but
had seen this in Bollywood movies but experiencing it made me feel like I was
experiencing it made me feel like I was
experiencing it made me feel like I was in a Bollywood movie now similarly I
in a Bollywood movie now similarly I
in a Bollywood movie now similarly I just returned from India a few weeks ago
just returned from India a few weeks ago
just returned from India a few weeks ago now one of the one experience that
now one of the one experience that
now one of the one experience that really took me aback was the way that
really took me aback was the way that
really took me aback was the way that men and boys interacted with me in
men and boys interacted with me in
men and boys interacted with me in public
public
public and when I say interacted with let me
and when I say interacted with let me
and when I say interacted with let me explain to you what I mean everywhere
explain to you what I mean everywhere
explain to you what I mean everywhere that I went whether it was the mall
that I went whether it was the mall
that I went whether it was the mall walking down the street if I was at a
walking down the street if I was at a
walking down the street if I was at a temple I could look up and see the eyes
temple I could look up and see the eyes
temple I could look up and see the eyes of countless men looking back at me but
of countless men looking back at me but
of countless men looking back at me but it wasn’t just that that they were
it wasn’t just that that they were
it wasn’t just that that they were looking at me it was that they were
looking at me it was that they were
looking at me it was that they were staring at me they were leering at me
staring at me they were leering at me
staring at me they were leering at me and as you can imagine that this made me
and as you can imagine that this made me
and as you can imagine that this made me feel very uncomfortable
feel very uncomfortable
feel very uncomfortable Bollywood plays a major role in the
Bollywood plays a major role in the
Bollywood plays a major role in the proliferation of such attitudes towards
proliferation of such attitudes towards
proliferation of such attitudes towards women these attitudes are part of the
women these attitudes are part of the
women these attitudes are part of the societal norm in India that many women
societal norm in India that many women
societal norm in India that many women experience however we’re just supposed
experience however we’re just supposed
experience however we’re just supposed to accept it and move on while there are
to accept it and move on while there are
to accept it and move on while there are countless sources that contribute to
countless sources that contribute to
countless sources that contribute to this Bollywood the Hindi language film
this Bollywood the Hindi language film
this Bollywood the Hindi language film industry is one of the sources and its
industry is one of the sources and its
industry is one of the sources and its portrayal of women in this way is what
portrayal of women in this way is what
portrayal of women in this way is what has led to a lot of the patriarchy in
has led to a lot of the patriarchy in
has led to a lot of the patriarchy in India so we’re gonna begin with a brief
India so we’re gonna begin with a brief
India so we’re gonna begin with a brief history of Bollywood and explore how it
history of Bollywood and explore how it
history of Bollywood and explore how it has condoned patriarchal ideals
has condoned patriarchal ideals
has condoned patriarchal ideals throughout its existence
throughout its existence
throughout its existence so Bollywood was started in the year
so Bollywood was started in the year
so Bollywood was started in the year 1913 and early films were in Bollywood
1913 and early films were in Bollywood
1913 and early films were in Bollywood focused on drew inspiration from Hindu
focused on drew inspiration from Hindu
focused on drew inspiration from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and the
epics like the Ramayana and the
epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata stories I focused on strong
Mahabharata stories I focused on strong
Mahabharata stories I focused on strong male characters combating evil but in
male characters combating evil but in
male characters combating evil but in the 1940s India was struggling to gain
the 1940s India was struggling to gain
the 1940s India was struggling to gain independence from Great Britain during
independence from Great Britain during
independence from Great Britain during this time many of them
this time many of them
this time many of them he’s depicted violent war heroes or
he’s depicted violent war heroes or
he’s depicted violent war heroes or military dramas and then in 1947 India
military dramas and then in 1947 India
military dramas and then in 1947 India gained its independence from Great
gained its independence from Great
gained its independence from Great Britain
Britain
Britain afterwards most of the movies depicted
afterwards most of the movies depicted
afterwards most of the movies depicted more romances and risque love stories
more romances and risque love stories
more romances and risque love stories so these risque love stories caused a
so these risque love stories caused a
so these risque love stories caused a widespread concern in India and in fact
widespread concern in India and in fact
widespread concern in India and in fact in the year 1954 thirteen thousand
in the year 1954 thirteen thousand
in the year 1954 thirteen thousand Indian women sign and presented a
Indian women sign and presented a
Indian women sign and presented a petition to Indian Prime Minister Nehru
petition to Indian Prime Minister Nehru
petition to Indian Prime Minister Nehru at the time they believe that these
at the time they believe that these
at the time they believe that these radically romantic films were in evil
radically romantic films were in evil
radically romantic films were in evil influence on the nation’s youth and so
influence on the nation’s youth and so
influence on the nation’s youth and so the government eventually agreed and
the government eventually agreed and
the government eventually agreed and then from then on Indian cinema was
then from then on Indian cinema was
then from then on Indian cinema was censored this led to a change in the
censored this led to a change in the
censored this led to a change in the portrayal of women in Bollywood so from
portrayal of women in Bollywood so from
portrayal of women in Bollywood so from then on their women were portrayed as
then on their women were portrayed as
then on their women were portrayed as damsels in distress’ or homemakers a
damsels in distress’ or homemakers a
damsels in distress’ or homemakers a great example of this is the 1968 movie
great example of this is the 1968 movie
great example of this is the 1968 movie Brahma Chari this movie follows the
Brahma Chari this movie follows the
Brahma Chari this movie follows the story of a kind man who cares for
story of a kind man who cares for
story of a kind man who cares for orphans and he helps a woman to appeal
orphans and he helps a woman to appeal
orphans and he helps a woman to appeal to our love interest by teaching her how
to our love interest by teaching her how
to our love interest by teaching her how to dress behave and act from a man’s
to dress behave and act from a man’s
to dress behave and act from a man’s point of view this movie gained a lot of
point of view this movie gained a lot of
point of view this movie gained a lot of awards and was a major box-office hit
awards and was a major box-office hit
awards and was a major box-office hit but it portrayed women as obedient and
but it portrayed women as obedient and
but it portrayed women as obedient and often submissive so as the years
often submissive so as the years
often submissive so as the years progressed not much changed in the year
progressed not much changed in the year
progressed not much changed in the year 1995 a very popular movie by the name of
1995 a very popular movie by the name of
1995 a very popular movie by the name of the volatile hanyul a giant get became
the volatile hanyul a giant get became
the volatile hanyul a giant get became popular so this is a movie that our
popular so this is a movie that our
popular so this is a movie that our generation Millennials have grown up
generation Millennials have grown up
generation Millennials have grown up watching and the title of the movie
watching and the title of the movie
watching and the title of the movie roughly translates to the brave hearted
roughly translates to the brave hearted
roughly translates to the brave hearted will take away his bride in this movie
will take away his bride in this movie
will take away his bride in this movie two Indian strangers fall in love with
two Indian strangers fall in love with
two Indian strangers fall in love with each other but the heroine of this movie
each other but the heroine of this movie
each other but the heroine of this movie is depicted without an identity she’s
is depicted without an identity she’s
is depicted without an identity she’s often portrayed in relation to the men
often portrayed in relation to the men
often portrayed in relation to the men in her life either as a daughter or as a
in her life either as a daughter or as a
in her life either as a daughter or as a love interest and subject to societal
love interest and subject to societal
love interest and subject to societal norms so this shows how woman in Indian
norms so this shows how woman in Indian
norms so this shows how woman in Indian cinema are portrayed as complementary
cinema are portrayed as complementary
cinema are portrayed as complementary and supplementary characters to men who
and supplementary characters to men who
and supplementary characters to men who are the focal point and in addition in
are the focal point and in addition in
are the focal point and in addition in addition Indian cinema also portrays
addition Indian cinema also portrays
addition Indian cinema also portrays items
items
items which which are dance numbers where
which which are dance numbers where
which which are dance numbers where scantily clad actresses perform
scantily clad actresses perform
scantily clad actresses perform provocative dances now why are we
provocative dances now why are we
provocative dances now why are we concerned about the portrayal of women
concerned about the portrayal of women
concerned about the portrayal of women in Bollywood
in Bollywood
in Bollywood well bollywood is a 2.2 eight billion
well bollywood is a 2.2 eight billion
well bollywood is a 2.2 eight billion dollar industry they produce over 16
dollar industry they produce over 16
dollar industry they produce over 16 hundred films a year ten times that of
hundred films a year ten times that of
hundred films a year ten times that of Hollywood and they sell twice as many
Hollywood and they sell twice as many
Hollywood and they sell twice as many tickets as the United States movies do
tickets as the United States movies do
tickets as the United States movies do and in the industry itself six point two
and in the industry itself six point two
and in the industry itself six point two men – one female is a ratio twice that
men – one female is a ratio twice that
men – one female is a ratio twice that of the United States now what exactly do
of the United States now what exactly do
of the United States now what exactly do these numbers tell us
these numbers tell us
these numbers tell us so obviously Bollywood has a very large
so obviously Bollywood has a very large
so obviously Bollywood has a very large reach in India so it should be no
reach in India so it should be no
reach in India so it should be no surprise that it also plays a large role
surprise that it also plays a large role
surprise that it also plays a large role in shaping the mindsets of the people in
in shaping the mindsets of the people in
in shaping the mindsets of the people in India and it can be argued that Western
India and it can be argued that Western
India and it can be argued that Western movies also portrayed gender stereotypes
movies also portrayed gender stereotypes
movies also portrayed gender stereotypes in cinema and popular culture but the
in cinema and popular culture but the
in cinema and popular culture but the key difference here with Bollywood is
key difference here with Bollywood is
key difference here with Bollywood is that it’s in India where society and
that it’s in India where society and
that it’s in India where society and culture is is dramatically more
culture is is dramatically more
culture is is dramatically more conservative than the Western world now
conservative than the Western world now
conservative than the Western world now Bollywood in India have contrasting
Bollywood in India have contrasting
Bollywood in India have contrasting takes on the Indian culture producing
takes on the Indian culture producing
takes on the Indian culture producing conflicting messages to the society for
conflicting messages to the society for
conflicting messages to the society for example Sasori societal norms restrict
example Sasori societal norms restrict
example Sasori societal norms restrict interactions between girls and boys in
interactions between girls and boys in
interactions between girls and boys in India in this case they portray more of
India in this case they portray more of
India in this case they portray more of conservative clothing and encourage
conservative clothing and encourage
conservative clothing and encourage girls to stay at home until they’re
girls to stay at home until they’re
girls to stay at home until they’re married but Bollywood takes a more
married but Bollywood takes a more
married but Bollywood takes a more modern twist on this what I mean by that
modern twist on this what I mean by that
modern twist on this what I mean by that is that people wear more risque and
is that people wear more risque and
is that people wear more risque and revealing clothing and premarital
revealing clothing and premarital
revealing clothing and premarital relationships are often encouraged us
relationships are often encouraged us
relationships are often encouraged us who mariner asani of foreign policy
who mariner asani of foreign policy
who mariner asani of foreign policy states the role of women in Indian
states the role of women in Indian
states the role of women in Indian cinema is a reflection of a woman’s role
cinema is a reflection of a woman’s role
cinema is a reflection of a woman’s role in society from a man’s viewpoint and
in society from a man’s viewpoint and
in society from a man’s viewpoint and this often leads to the objectification
this often leads to the objectification
this often leads to the objectification of women and poor treatment of women
of women and poor treatment of women
of women and poor treatment of women glorification of hyper masculinity and
glorification of hyper masculinity and
glorification of hyper masculinity and violence influences kind of culture so
violence influences kind of culture so
violence influences kind of culture so violence is a very prevalent theme in
violence is a very prevalent theme in
violence is a very prevalent theme in Bollywood movies a campaign by frame her
Bollywood movies a campaign by frame her
Bollywood movies a campaign by frame her right found that 95 percent of Indian
right found that 95 percent of Indian
right found that 95 percent of Indian women felt very uncomfortable watching
women felt very uncomfortable watching
women felt very uncomfortable watching movies where there is violence against
movies where there is violence against
movies where there is violence against women and 55 to 70 percent of married
women and 55 to 70 percent of married
women and 55 to 70 percent of married Indian women live in a domestically
Indian women live in a domestically
Indian women live in a domestically abusive relationship
abusive relationship
abusive relationship a court case in Australia found that a
a court case in Australia found that a
a court case in Australia found that a man was stalking two women when asked
man was stalking two women when asked
man was stalking two women when asked why he did that he said that it was
why he did that he said that it was
why he did that he said that it was common in Bollywood movies for this to
common in Bollywood movies for this to
common in Bollywood movies for this to happen and the woman eventually ended up
happen and the woman eventually ended up
happen and the woman eventually ended up falling in love with the men but even
falling in love with the men but even
falling in love with the men but even the lawyer defended him and he said this
the lawyer defended him and he said this
the lawyer defended him and he said this behavior is typical of Indian men so it
behavior is typical of Indian men so it
behavior is typical of Indian men so it should just be affected in 2012 a
should just be affected in 2012 a
should just be affected in 2012 a horrific aughts horrific incident in New
horrific aughts horrific incident in New
horrific aughts horrific incident in New Delhi took headlines worldwide in 2012 a
Delhi took headlines worldwide in 2012 a
Delhi took headlines worldwide in 2012 a young woman was brutally attacked and
young woman was brutally attacked and
young woman was brutally attacked and gang-raped a few days after the attack
gang-raped a few days after the attack
gang-raped a few days after the attack she died of her injuries and so this
she died of her injuries and so this
she died of her injuries and so this event sparked a worldwide conversation
event sparked a worldwide conversation
event sparked a worldwide conversation about how Indian culture and also
about how Indian culture and also
about how Indian culture and also Bollywood contribute to such ideals in
Bollywood contribute to such ideals in
Bollywood contribute to such ideals in India following these tragic events a
India following these tragic events a
India following these tragic events a documentary called India’s daughter was
documentary called India’s daughter was
documentary called India’s daughter was released and it kind of tracked the
released and it kind of tracked the
released and it kind of tracked the incidence of rape culture within India
incidence of rape culture within India
incidence of rape culture within India however the government banned it saying
however the government banned it saying
however the government banned it saying that it went against many of the Indian
that it went against many of the Indian
that it went against many of the Indian cultures and morals and even members of
cultures and morals and even members of
cultures and morals and even members of parliament at the time said that it
parliament at the time said that it
parliament at the time said that it should be banned because it would lead
should be banned because it would lead
should be banned because it would lead to men feeling uncomfortable by the
to men feeling uncomfortable by the
to men feeling uncomfortable by the thoughts and actions that they had
thoughts and actions that they had
thoughts and actions that they had another event it happened very recently
another event it happened very recently
another event it happened very recently on Year’s Eve this past December in
on Year’s Eve this past December in
on Year’s Eve this past December in Bangalore India mobs of men took to the
Bangalore India mobs of men took to the
Bangalore India mobs of men took to the streets of took to the main streets of
streets of took to the main streets of
streets of took to the main streets of the city and what ended up being a mass
the city and what ended up being a mass
the city and what ended up being a mass molestation of women who happened to be
molestation of women who happened to be
molestation of women who happened to be celebrating museum and these events were
celebrating museum and these events were
celebrating museum and these events were highly documented there were videos and
highly documented there were videos and
highly documented there were videos and pictures that were shared on social
pictures that were shared on social
pictures that were shared on social media sites and covered by news
media sites and covered by news
media sites and covered by news organizations however government
organizations however government
organizations however government officials in India’s such as the police
officials in India’s such as the police
officials in India’s such as the police commissioner of Bank lawyer refused to
commissioner of Bank lawyer refused to
commissioner of Bank lawyer refused to believe that any of these events
believe that any of these events
believe that any of these events happened in fact they blatantly denied
happened in fact they blatantly denied
happened in fact they blatantly denied that the dis happened the most
that the dis happened the most
that the dis happened the most frightening part of this is the fact
frightening part of this is the fact
frightening part of this is the fact that women had to take most of the blame
that women had to take most of the blame
that women had to take most of the blame for what had happened in fact even after
for what had happened in fact even after
for what had happened in fact even after it happened the Home Minister just said
it happened the Home Minister just said
it happened the Home Minister just said these things happen and he said that
these things happen and he said that
these things happen and he said that women should just accept it which just
women should just accept it which just
women should just accept it which just shows that the government and officials
shows that the government and officials
shows that the government and officials in India are not ready to move forward
in India are not ready to move forward
in India are not ready to move forward from the binding effects of the
from the binding effects of the
from the binding effects of the patriarchy now these denials don’t just
patriarchy now these denials don’t just
patriarchy now these denials don’t just come from the government they also come
come from the government they also come
come from the government they also come from Bollywood itself in fact
from Bollywood itself in fact
from Bollywood itself in fact of the most popular actors in India is
of the most popular actors in India is
of the most popular actors in India is Shia Khan and he has been quoted saying
Shia Khan and he has been quoted saying
Shia Khan and he has been quoted saying that he does not believe that Bollywood
that he does not believe that Bollywood
that he does not believe that Bollywood plays any part in the maltreatment of
plays any part in the maltreatment of
plays any part in the maltreatment of women in in Indian society however there
women in in Indian society however there
women in in Indian society however there are some notable actors and actresses
are some notable actors and actresses
are some notable actors and actresses who do who do recognize that this is a
who do who do recognize that this is a
who do who do recognize that this is a problem and are working to address this
problem and are working to address this
problem and are working to address this these include Mallika Sherawat Farhan
these include Mallika Sherawat Farhan
these include Mallika Sherawat Farhan Akhtar Kalki Koechlin and Amitabh
Akhtar Kalki Koechlin and Amitabh
Akhtar Kalki Koechlin and Amitabh Bachchan
Bachchan
Bachchan now these actors have had led to an
now these actors have had led to an
now these actors have had led to an increasing number of Bollywood movies
increasing number of Bollywood movies
increasing number of Bollywood movies that help to promote feminism and
that help to promote feminism and
that help to promote feminism and women’s right all a while they helped to
women’s right all a while they helped to
women’s right all a while they helped to bring down the patriarchy and demote the
bring down the patriarchy and demote the
bring down the patriarchy and demote the jet binding gender norms a couple of
jet binding gender norms a couple of
jet binding gender norms a couple of examples of this are dear zindagi dear
examples of this are dear zindagi dear
examples of this are dear zindagi dear zindagi is the story of a woman that is
zindagi is the story of a woman that is
zindagi is the story of a woman that is encouraged to follow her ambitions while
encouraged to follow her ambitions while
encouraged to follow her ambitions while breaking down these gender norms on the
breaking down these gender norms on the
breaking down these gender norms on the other hand is dung-geul dung-geul is the
other hand is dung-geul dung-geul is the
other hand is dung-geul dung-geul is the true story of a father that encourages
true story of a father that encourages
true story of a father that encourages his young daughters to pursue a
his young daughters to pursue a
his young daughters to pursue a professional career in wrestling radical
professional career in wrestling radical
professional career in wrestling radical ideas considering the societal norms
ideas considering the societal norms
ideas considering the societal norms that currently exist now it is
that currently exist now it is
that currently exist now it is indisputable that India still has a long
indisputable that India still has a long
indisputable that India still has a long ways to go before women are treated
ways to go before women are treated
ways to go before women are treated equally
equally
equally Bollywood plays a large role in shaping
Bollywood plays a large role in shaping
Bollywood plays a large role in shaping Indian society and so instead of
Indian society and so instead of
Indian society and so instead of condoning patriarchal ideals as it
condoning patriarchal ideals as it
condoning patriarchal ideals as it currently does Bollywood should instead
currently does Bollywood should instead
currently does Bollywood should instead promote the better treatment of women
promote the better treatment of women
promote the better treatment of women now Bollywood is starting to head in
now Bollywood is starting to head in
now Bollywood is starting to head in that direction but it’s not enough
that direction but it’s not enough
that direction but it’s not enough bollywood needs to keep moving forward
bollywood needs to keep moving forward
bollywood needs to keep moving forward and in order to do this there will
and in order to do this there will
and in order to do this there will conversations both on and off screen
conversations both on and off screen
conversations both on and off screen will be required if Bollywood wants to
will be required if Bollywood wants to
will be required if Bollywood wants to promote gender equality in India thank
promote gender equality in India thank
promote gender equality in India thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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