Abstract

The topic of female infidelity evokes strong sentiments in Indian society - marred with stigma eliciting severe critical judgment it is considered a crime and a threat to the deeply entrenched existing patriarchal social structure. Women in India for long have been treated as a property of not only the man but of the entire community and her disloyalty is perceived as a betrayal of not only the husband but the entire family and clan. In this backdrop, the portrayal of this extremely sensitive topic in Indian mass media i.e. cinema, television, and OTT is simultaneously a reflection of the prevalent patriarchal norms of society while having the potential to become a tool for influencing and morphing societal attitudes. This article would begin by defining female infidelity through legal frameworks, socio-cultural and religious beliefs highlighting the feminist perspective about it. It would then proceed to analyze the depiction of female infidelity in mass media dwelling on the reasons depicted which lead women towards other partners. The article would proceed to critique the mass media's approach to the depiction of the culmination of such relationships from a feminist perspective. The article would also attempt to juxtapose the treatment of male infidelity in mass media, with the man often depicted as virile and macho as he is ‘handling’ two women simultaneously, This article is an attempt to examine the relationship between the desired legal and social reforms and the potential to harness the influence of mass media in shaping public opinion contributing to a more progressive conversation about women's rights and autonomy. The article concludes with recommendations for filmmakers to adopt storytelling norms which embraces female autonomy so that mass media can promote societal change and contribute to a more just and equal society.

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