Commodifying Women

In the fury of the ongoing huge debate about women and their right to protection voices have been raised, people have taken to streets, slogans, updates, smses are reaching out to masses, struggles would not cease. But even in these struggles there remain the most influential factors of all which continue to play hide & seek with public-Media and Cinema. As much as they try to hide the more gets exposed. One cannot turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the facts that are on display via these two factors.

Media & Cinema are the most influential factors of all which have great impact on human psyche, so says many studies. And the masses too would agree on this predicament that indeed Media & Cinema influence the masses in great many ways. The gimmicks the media acquires to increase their ads and TRPs which may not be visible to a layman but are sure to be spotted by anyone who deals with media.The number of newses related to eve teasing,molestation and rapes would not cease to make it to the city pages after the Delhi gang rape. Many Debates have be raised by News channels discussing the same old topic about right to protection for women. Every lane, by lane has a local goon who will ogle at a girl passing by but there is no law that arrests this goon for so much as seeing a girl with lustful eyes. Had the government taken strict measures right after a small eve teasing incident happening on streets almost every minute of every hour in different cities across the nation the rape cases would be minimal occurrence. Had there been a stricter law in existence that would grant a women right to protection from the devils in cloak of human skin, rapes would certainly be minimal occurrence. Had the media paid any heed to every eve teasing and molestation case and reported it and followed it up to make the jurisdiction take stricter action, rapes would definitely have been minimal occurrence. Had the film fraternity taken steps to make space for women as not a piece for exposure but giving her respectful and dignified roles, rapes would be a minimal occurrence. But none of this has happened or is likely to happen and so rapes are rampant while eve teasing and molestation is just another incident which need not be paid much attention to.

Media seems to have gained pace in exposing the rape cases and the reports of such cases are making headlines or are seen in every bulletin, do we call this socially responsible media or is it just yet another gimmick to increase TRPs? Media never took a strict stance, hardly stood by such cause and so it is that we see such dreadful occurrences. In one of the most shaming and shocking incident that took place a few days after public stood up demanding justice for Delhi rape victim, the media literally needs to be lashed. A media invite for a fashion show sent across read “The show will be followed with a dance performance by the models as a tribute to the Delhi rape victim.” The words clearly indicate how humanity has dissolved to be replaced by insensitive and commercial minded human side. The ones who believe in minting money would not leave a brutally murdered a dead being in peace. They would find ways that would help gain them sympathy and money, all at the same time.

On one side where we see the insensitive media, the other side of the same coin – Cinema- is not much behind in making a mockery of the issue. Films have till date only added fuel to the fire, spoiling the already spoilt mentality or rather taking it to a next level. In a country which respects an idol of a goddess but treats daughters, sisters, wives and mothers either like a piece of merchandise kept for display in the display window or more like a worn out sandal; cinema and ads only make filthy beliefs much more tighter.

Ever after the rapes are avenged by the Hero of the film and justice given yet we cannot ignore the glorified way these rape scenes are picturised. Such picturisation gets reflected in reality. In a decade when rape scene was a compulsion in the films actor Ranjit had become infamously famous. Ranjit recalls his parents’ reaction when they had to introduce him to their relatives as an actor who is a rapist in films. That would have been shaming certainly. As also the actor had become so familiar with such scenes that he developed a knack to calm down a newbie and patiently explain her how the scene will be shot. Such was the craze for inclusion of such scenes. A juvenile mind having criminal thoughts and then acting on it is nothing but a product of glorification of such crimes on silver screen.

The old era of rapes though seems to have receded yet the new age ad world has taken lessons from its predecessors. The ads selling shaving creams, men’s perfume, condoms etc usually show a lusty eyed, lip nibbling, sexy looking “babe”. This turns out to be yet another manner in which a woman is viewed – as a means to sell a commodity. Such ads are as provoking as the glorified rape scenes. And much provoking are the item numbers. There looks to be a rat race amongst the film fraternity to include 3 to 4 item songs in their films and even the most philanthropic, sensible actors of the industry are not left behind in this race.

How far will you agree with this article depends on how feminist you are or how chauvinist you can be but the fact remains- Media and Cinema only commodify women and women are and were always treated as a commodity to generate pleasure or to inflict pain. This needs to be changed as much as there needs to be a change in law!