Stories of survivors: Rape in drama serials

Ms.T takes an in-depth look at how rape is portrayed in local drama serials and why it might be making matters worse.

Pakistan is certainly no stranger to violence against women. The local media is rife with tragic news of sexual abuse, lending credence to the fact that such unfortunate incidents do happen frequently, despite the victims’ reluctance to report them. Naturally, a rape victim’s choice to not lodge a complaint against her attacker(s) has much to do with how rape victims are perceived in our society or rather, how they think they will be perceived. And unfortunately, local media, TV serials, in particular, make matters worse.

These dramas are watched by countless women across the country, from all walks of life. They possess the power to influence their perceptions regarding rape by presenting strong role models who are unafraid to pursue their attackers legally. It is not that Pakistani dramas do not talk about rape at all, as was the case until a few years ago. Rather, the storylines of our serials have come a long way since the eighties and now, often feature a leading lady who is subjected to an assault and the repercussions it entails in Pakistani society. It is commendable that our television industry finally shed some light on an issue which was a major social taboo.



The problem, however, is that while rape and the attendant suffering it brings with itself may have become a tactic for the TV channels to woo viewers, most stories fail to provide an inspirational example of a rape victim rise above her situation. Of all the TV serials that I have watched over the past few months, only three addressed the issue of rape and the subsequent trauma the victim undergoes daily. Unfortunately, all three serials focused primarily on the suffering, self-pity and character-assassination of the victim and not her ability to takle it.

In addition to this, all the serials seemed to discourage women from taking legal action and instead, resorting to vigilante tactics to seek revenge — that too through the angry ‘honour-conscious’ male members of the family. In one shocking example, the victim’s husband, upon discovering the identity of her assailant, is infuriated just enough to grab him by the neck, thrash him a bit and kick him out of the room. And that’s all. No one cares enough to lodge an FIR or even get the victim some medical help.



This is not to say that rape victims do not suffer deplorable treatment from friends and family in the real world. But focusing merely on the silent turmoil of the victims will not help them in any way. In fact, it is likely to intensify their desire to further conceal their situation. In addition to this, the lack of legal action allows sexual predators feel brazen enough to repeat the offence without any fear of incarceration. One may argue that our lack of a sound legal system would render any attempts to prosecute rape futile but shifting the focus from suffering to retribution can help improve victims’ lives just a tad, if not completely.

In such an environment, a refreshing Turkish drama that was being aired on a local TV channel, appears to depict the trauma of rape in an extremely sensitive and inspiring manner. It manages to do what our local dramas have failed to thus far. When the protagonist, a young, farm worker from a small Turkish village, suffers assault at the hands of three rich men from Istanbul, goes through a phase of self-pity and shame which is all too familiar for our local audience. Add the incessant nagging of her sister-in-law, who accuses the girl of enticing the men and you have one solid Pakistani serial.



But what sets the Turkish drama apart is that unlike most other rape victims, the protagonist gradually gains the courage to not only report her enemies to the police but also follow through with a painfully long and emotionally taxing court case — despite the odds almost always being in their favour. She seeks psychiatric help, starts her own business, keeps her head high and even falls in love with a man, often repeating the line, “I have nothing to be ashamed of.” Eventually, she proves successful and viewers are given a happy ending. Thus, her story focuses less on pain and pity and more on working through them. Most importantly, acquiring revenge through vigilantism is negated completely by the victim seeking legal help which is refreshing and inspirational.

Of course, there are still some aspects of the drama that are somewhat unpalatable, such as how the victim’s husband (who was privy to the rape but did nothing to stop it) manages to atone for his sins by marrying her. Regardless, it is the steady recovery of the protagonist that steals the show and leaves the viewers with a feel-good sensation at the end.



One may feel that the Turkish drama is unrealistic in a country like Pakistan but the media, be it print or broadcast, does not necessarily have to be realistic to inspire people. Superhero comics and their movie versions have played an important role in shaping Western cultural dynamics. Closer to home, Bollywood movies have captivated our minds with hilarious yet enduring stereotypes of the Vamp, the Sati Savitri and the tawaaif with a heart of gold for decades. Most recently, Disney has come under fire for brainwashing generations of young girls into becoming airheaded princesses waiting for their Prince Charming to come and carry them off to a better life. In similarly way, a drama serial is rarely an accurate representation of real life.

Nonetheless, if stories of weak and submissive characters can help perpetuate such behaviours in women, it is safe to say that stories of powerful and confident women could do the same. They may not be true or close to reality but they may encourage some silent woman somewhere to stand up and gather the pieces of her life. And perhaps, a few more after her. And once there are enough voices, no one will be able to drown them out.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, October 6^th, 2013.