Indecent representation of women

The crime against women of indecent representation is regulated under the “INDECENT REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN (PROHIBITION) ACT, 1986.”The bill of this act was introduced as a response to a movement by the women for a legislative action against the pejorative depiction of women in India. The act aimed to regulate the representation and portrayal of women in mainstream media in particular print media. It aimed to bring into force to ensure that the portrayal of women in media, by means of advertisements, writings, publications and illustrations was not such that could be termed “indecent”. The time period in which it was enacted 1986, which continues to be in force, focused primarily on print media and advertisement. Section 2(c) of this act defines ‘indecent representation’ to mean the depiction in any manner of the figure of a woman, her form or body or any part thereof in such a way as to the effect of being indecent, derogatory, or is likely to deprave or injure the image of a woman. With the introduction of the internet, technological advancement and the development of electronic media, there has been revolutionary change in the field of mass media and communication. With the introduction of new communication technology, the power of mass media has grown dramatically. Newspapers, television, film, magazine, cable and satellite television have grown rapidly throughout the world. The mass media today shapes our very lives, our belief, understanding, attitude, perceptions and social reality. Media plays an integral part in people’s lives. From the moment we get up we are engulfed in the media centric world. Our day begins with a newspaper in our hand and the last thing before retiring to bed is a glance at the latest news. Our choices are being determined by the media. The pervasive effects of the media on the varied spheres of the Indian life –They consciously or unconsciously learn and imitate a lot of things like violence, revolt, sex which are harmful to young and immature minds. The impact of visual media is a very powerful vehicle for communicating idea and images is known to be tremendous. Manu Smriti mandates that the highest respect, regard and protection must be given to the women throughout their life. Women have been depicted in the most respectable and aesthetic manner on the one hand and, on the other, they have also been victims of indecent, vulgar and obscene depiction. It is perceived that in recent time media is representing women in an indecent way. Media has emerged as a major exploiter of women. It is seen to flout all norms relating to obscenity, decency and morality. There is a systematic overdose of nudity and vulgarity. Today media is treating women as goods to promote sales. Women and their concerns or problems are no longer visible in mass media; there has been increasing commodification of women in mass media. Women play a very substantial role in advertising both as consumer and as influencers. The depiction of women in Indian advertising is a topic of debate and concern regarding the culture and traditions. It has been believed that the women’s moral and social status is mainly determined on the basis of the degree of exposure of her physical form to public view. There are advertisements where the females are shown in bad light. They are dressed in meager clothes even when their presence in the advertisements has no relevance with the brand. However, advertisement shares a major chunk in the sphere of media today. Fragmenting the female body parts or exhibiting women in indecent posture is rather disgusting. In doing so a women is used as if she is a commodity. In 1960‟s and 1970‟s mass media in developing countries were assigned the role of developing and modernizing traditional societies. But today media in portraying women is playing a negative role which is derogatory and objectionable. It does not reflect the social reality. Taking advantage of its popularity, mass media in present-day is more responsible for indecent representation of women. Gender related issues and their problems are not getting importance. The rising levels of obscenity in the Indian films, poses a threat to the foundation of Indian society and its culture. If care not taken imminently and that too at war footing by the society, law would disrupt the Indian society forever by giving a death blow to our ageless culture and ethos by opening the floodgates of fornication. Apart from broadening the scope of the law, the pending bill enactment also introduces stricter penal terms by way of increasing the quantum of punishment as well as the fine, especially for the repeat offenders. The crime rate for this crime has though considerably reduced, but still its existence from our society has not yet been eliminated and as stated above due to increased internet usage and advent of social media the risk has become manifold. Thus, we have to all work towards not indulging in publication/reading/writing/watching any kind of work that tends to be “indecent” and uphold our moral obligations. Discrimination and exploitation against women have become global phenomena and their consequences are more tragic in the Third World. Poverty, ignorance, deprivation of basic necessities of life and ever growing pressure of transition from tradition to modernity all combine to aggravate the inequalities that women in developing countries, including India, suffer to a point at which their existence is reduced to a continuous battle for survival.

Know More: Legal rights of a wife in India.