Violence Against Women Treated as an Act of Violence or as a Normal Practice: A Study of Pakistani TV Drama Serials

Abstract

This research investigated the representations of violence against women in violence based Pakistani TV drama serials. Quantitative content analysis was used in which 30 dramas from January 2018 to May 2020 were selected through non probability purposive sampling from three top rated Pakistani entertainment channels. 283 scenes from 842 episodes were analyzed for violence against women to explore whether the violence was represented as an act of violence or a normal practice. Findings show that representation through the writing, direction and shooting of the scenes, Pakistani drama serials show violent scenes as acts of violence and not as a normal practice.