The phenomenon of educated urban Indian women consuming TV serials and films with seemingly anti-woke themes—often featuring regressive portrayals of women as suffering, self-sacrificing, or emotionally dependent—raises intriguing questions about audience preferences and cultural dynamics. Shows like Anupamaa and Kumkum Bhagya, as well as films like Kabir Singh and Saiyaara, frequently depict women crying, enduring hardship, or navigating toxic relationships. Despite these themes, they command massive viewership among urban educated women. This leads to a question: Why do these women, who are aware of feminist critiques, continue to engage with such content? Are they drawn to seeing other women cry, and why don’t they reject these narratives outright? Watching and expressing frustration may inadvertently fuel these themes by boosting ratings, so it’s worth exploring the underlying factors.
Emotional Resonance Over Ideological Rejection
Educated urban Indian women, often exposed to progressive ideas through education and global media, might be expected to shun anti-woke content that glorifies female suffering or reinforces traditional gender roles. Yet shows like Anupamaa, which initially portrayed female empowerment but later leaned into repetitive family drama, consistently top TRP charts according to BARC data (2020-2025). On social media, there's a split of opinion: some women criticize these shows for “making women cry endlessly,” yet many admit to watching for emotional catharsis. The appeal lies in relatable struggles—like marital discord, societal pressure, or emotional sacrifice—that mirror real-life complexities, even for urban professionals. As one social media user noted, Anupamaa feels like my mom’s life; I watch to feel her pain, not to agree with it.” These narratives offer a safe space to process emotions, even if their portrayals feel regressive.
Cultural Context and Escapism
Despite urban progress, Indian society retains strong patriarchal undercurrents, and TV serials reflect this tension. Educated women may not endorse anti-woke themes, but they find them compelling because these narratives depict the reality of navigating familial expectations and toxic relationships. For instance, Kabir Singh (2019), criticized for glorifying toxic masculinity, was a hit among women (60% of its audience, according to actor Rajesh Khattar). This suggests that women were drawn to its raw emotional intensity rather than its ideology. Similarly, Saiyaara,"which portrays Vaani’s tragic past and memory loss, taps into a universal desire for love and redemption, not necessarily approval of her suffering. Social media users highlight this sentiment: “We don’t want to be Anupamaa, but we understand why she cries. It’s escapism, not agreement.” Watching such content allows women to engage with their own suppressed emotions without real-world consequences.
The Paradox of Passive Consumption
Why don’t these women reject anti-woke content outright? Several factors contribute:
Habit and Accessibility: Daily soaps are cultural staples, easily accessible on TV compared to niche OTT platforms. For many, watching is a shared ritual with family, making it harder to disengage.
- Lack of Alternatives:** While web series like "Delhi Crime" offer progressive narratives, they often lack the daily, bite-sized engagement of soaps. As social media users complain, “OTT is great, but I can’t watch heavy stuff daily; soaps are lighter.”
- Hope for Narrative Redemption:Fans often stay, hoping for a character’s empowerment arc, as seen in the early seasons of "Anupamaa." This optimism keeps them hooked, even when stories stagnate.
However, passive consumption—watching while expressing frustration—boosts ratings, signaling demand for such content. One social media post summed it up: “We complain about saas-bahu drama, but our TRPs tell channels to keep making it.”
**Do Women Enjoy Seeing Others Cry?**
The idea that women watch these shows to see others cry oversimplifies their engagement. Instead, it’s about empathy and catharsis. Educated women may critique regressive tropes but relate to the emotional core of these stories—love, loss, or resilience. Psychological studies suggest that melodrama triggers oxytocin release, fostering emotional bonding with characters. For urban women juggling careers and family, these shows offer a release valve, not schadenfreude. Rejecting such content entirely would mean dismissing stories that, despite their flaws, reflect their lived experiences.
**Breaking the Cycle**
To move beyond mere frustration, women could advocate for finite, progressive narratives like "Panchayat" or "Saiyaara's" music-driven romance, which balance emotion with freshness. Selective viewing—abandoning shows when they turn regressive (often after a year, as original plots wane)—sends a stronger message than passive watching. Engaging in online discourse or supporting platforms like Hotstar can encourage creators to aim for quality storytelling. Ultimately, educated urban women don’t accept anti-woke themes blindly; they navigate them through a complex lens of empathy, habit, and cultural reality, but their agency lies in choosing when to walk away.
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