Evolution of Gender Representation in Streaming Media

Dr. Nidhi Saroop

Abstract: OTT platforms have played a big role in breaking down old ideas that pushed women aside in traditional media. Today, Indian pop culture has women characters that are complex, not perfect, and easy to relate to. By challenging traditional ideas of what it means to be feminine, these people allow for a more honest representation. Women on streaming platforms are now shown as more than just attractive or sexy. Instead, it shows how special, complicated, and independent they are. The media has been using the idea of "hegemonic masculinity" and showing a one-sided picture of men that is simple, straightforward, and matches traditional ideas of what being a man means. These exaggerated representations of men help keep discrimination against other genders alive, which also hurts men. The rise of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms, which challenge these representations, is definitely a positive development. These platforms present the basic ideas of the theory of social construction of reality, which aims to question traditional ideas of masculinity and promote different views of what it means to be a man. This study will look closely at how Indian online streaming content changes the way masculinity is shown, instead of just saying what these shows and movies show. It will examine how different Indian streaming platforms represent masculinity. To challenge traditional ideas about gender and power, and help future research in this area, the paper proposes a new look at gender, femininity, and masculinity. The study says that by showing different types of masculinity, streaming platforms have helped promote gender equality by changing how society views gender roles.

Keywords: Sex, Gender, Gender representation, Hegemonic Masculinity, OTT Platforms, Gender Deconstruction, Social Construction, Indian Media

How to Cite?: Dr. Nidhi Saroop, "Evolution of Gender Representation in Streaming Media", Volume 14 Issue 5, May 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1253-1256, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25519114919, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25519114919