Analyzing the meaning of sexual violence in Tamil movies: a mixed method approach

ABSTRACT

The popular media are important arenas where discourses on sexual violence are often articulated. These discourses are important in the treatment of victim and perpetrator by the state, media, society and – most importantly – by those closely connected to the victim or the perpetrator. Research has consistently linked the viewing of media violence with imitative behavior, increased hostility, and acceptance of violence. This paper focuses on the portrayal of sexual violence in Tamil movies produced in Chennai, India. In this study, twenty-five movies were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative content analysis. Most perpetrators were in supporting roles. Four themes were identified in the analysis: sexual violence as an expression of love; sexual violence as an expression of masculinity; sexual violence and family honor; sexual violence and comedy. The analysis shows that the portrayal of sexual violence in Tamil movies focuses mostly on the loss of honor or virginity and does not focus on the act of violence, or the trauma experienced by the victims. These portrayals are based on a patriarchal understanding of sexual violence and share elements with common rape myths in society.

KEYWORDS:

• Patriarchal values
• gender inequality
• quantitative content analysis
• qualitative content analysis
• sexual violence
• Tamil films

Acknowledgment

This study was funded by Research University Grant, Universiti Sains Malaysia 1001/PSOSIAL/816239

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 There are no official sites to obtain a complete list of all the movies produced during this time. Furthermore, reliable information regarding the success of Tamil movies is also not available to be used as the basis for the sampling frame.

2 This involved a level of judgment on the part of the researcher because no official guidelines are available to determine the popularity of Tamil movies. Movies that hardly received media attention or starred ‘unknown’ actors are removed because this study focuses on popular movies. Besides, box office information is not available for all movies, making it difficult to determine the popularity of a particular movie.

3 The word related is used because due to the screenplay, in some movies, scenes immediately before or after Scene A may not be relevant to the portrayal of sexual violence (e.g., the scene immediately before Scene A may be a dance number or comedy scene which is not related to the scene with sexual violence).

4 Jathis are rhythmic syllables used in Indian classical dance.

5 Hindi movies or more popularly known as ‘Bollywood’ movies are movies that are mostly made in Mumbai.

6 It is not visually portrayed, but the comedy actor talks about rape.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Research University Grant, Universiti Sains Malaysia: [Grant Number 1001/PSOSIAL/816239].

Notes on contributors

Premalatha Karupiah

Premalatha Karupiah is an associate professor of sociology at the School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. She teaches research methodology and statistics. Her research interests are in the areas of beauty culture, femininity, Tamil movies, and issues related to the Indian diaspora. In 2022 she co-edited a book entitled A Kaleidoscope of Malaysian Indian Women’s Lived Experiences: Gender-Ethnic Intersectionality and Cultural Socialisation.