Gender’s Portrayal in Pakistani Urdu Cinema During First Two Decades of 21 Century

Abstract

This content analysis of Pakistani Urdu movies was designed to explore gender portrayal in the first two decades of the 21st century. The research universe comprised nearly five hundred films released in Pakistani cinema between 2001 and 2020. Each year, a representative movie was selected based on its box office earnings and screening duration in major cinema houses, resulting in a sample of twenty films. The unit of analysis focused on individual scenes within these films. The study investigates the ascribed and achieved roles, physical appearance, and dressing styles of main characters throughout two decades (2001-2020) of Pakistani Urdu cinema. This comprehensive analysis aims to provide insights into how gender representation has evolved within the cinematic landscape of Pakistan. The research identifies stereotypical portrayals of females in both achieved and ascribed statuses and in their dress and appearance throughout the entire study period. Additionally, a shift in gender portrayal was observed across different periods of the study.