Why Do Women Have to Sacrifice in Indian Serials

I grew up in the US. Hence, I may not understand some things as I should.

One thing that irritates me once in a while is watching women (Archu in Pavitra Rishta, Lalli in Aagle Janam..., Radhika in Choti Bahu, and other women in past serials) sacrifice LOVE all the time for their families. It's always LOVE and it's always for their family. Not careers, education, etc. Just LOVE.

What is so wrong with LOVE? Why is there so much pride associated with it, as it were a badge of honor for parents to wear, and the children to sometimes suffer from? Parents' input is so important in the marriage process, and there is a lot to be considered and learned. And the point of marriage is to be happy and have happy families. What happens when one comes at the expense of the other, as it does on every show? 😕 In every situation, why do women have to give up their own happiness for the transitory satisfaction of their parents? Or do something that is so traumatic for them and dishonest to everyone else?

Sacrifice is honorable but only when it is THE RIGHT action for the RIGHT reason, a throwback to our Hindu learnings.

So in MGGK, I was disappointed to see Abha succumb to this malady that seems to afflict so many Indian women in Indian serials.

My challenge is:
Show me one woman who dares to follow her heart and is smart enough to work through the consequences of her actions. Let her love and be loved---And not have her shown a sinner or a worthless daughter or an insult to her family or to dharma. And not live with the guilt / remorse everyday. 😔

i applaud u for bringing this up 👏

I very much agree with your topic hun!

I have grown up in Canada, and I have seen exactly what you have. Ever since I started watching TV serials, one Indian Woman after the other has to sacrifice her LOVE for her parents' sake, her families sake, or for someone or something.

Why is it never shown a MALE sacrificing LOVE? or something OTHER than love?

Why is that LOVE is shown as the four letter word that everyone is against? Shouldn't they come together and eliminate HATE in a Indian serial? Indian serials usually are targeting a certain issue - or a broad issue overall, why can't it be showing the struggles of a man? throughout his life, for his career - his family - for HIM. Why can't it show women sacrificing something other than LOVE !? 😡

Why are WOMEN always the ones to SACRIFICE for their so called 'FAMILIES' I mean, I understand what their intentions are - but why the dramatic irony?

Great topic - love the issue. 👏

Originally posted by: gp00

I grew up in the US. Hence, I may not understand some things as I should.

One thing that irritates me once in a while is watching women (Archu in Pavitra Rishta, Lalli in Aagle Janam..., Radhika in Choti Bahu, and other women in past serials) sacrifice LOVE all the time for their families. It's always LOVE and it's always for their family. Not careers, education, etc. Just LOVE.

What is so wrong with LOVE? Why is there so much pride associated with it, as it were a badge of honor for parents to wear, and the children to sometimes suffer from? Parents' input is so important in the marriage process, and there is a lot to be considered and learned. And the point of marriage is to be happy and have happy families. What happens when one comes at the expense of the other, as it does on every show? 😕 In every situation, why do women have to give up their own happiness for the transitory satisfaction of their parents? Or do something that is so traumatic for them and dishonest to everyone else?

Sacrifice is honorable but only when it is THE RIGHT action for the RIGHT reason, a throwback to our Hindu learnings.

So in MGGK, I was disappointed to see Abha succumb to this malady that seems to afflict so many Indian women in Indian serials.

My challenge is:
Show me one woman who dares to follow her heart and is smart enough to work through the consequences of her actions. Let her love and be loved---And not have her shown a sinner or a worthless daughter or an insult to her family or to dharma. And not live with the guilt / remorse everyday. 😔

Hi gp

Indian women are always shown sacrificing for their families in these serials. But i doubt if that happens always in real life. I dont find these characters...specially radhika & lalli believable or interesting. YMGGK & Abha-Karan chemistry seemed somewhat real to me....hence started watching this show. I still have faith in Karan because he seems very unpredictable & charming to me. He wants to be happy & fights for it...that makes him very very attractive. Abha needs to believe in herself & her desires. All these things depend on the upbringing also & thakur must have suppressed the free will of all his family members for years. I hate this concept of family pride resting only on a daughter's shoulder. That is utterly primitive & disgusting!!!!

Hey gp00

I think another thing is that the Zee creatives feel the need to represent the "truly virtuous Indian woman" (e.g. Radhika, Abha, etc.) as one who MUST sacrifice or she is NOT a true Indian woman. I think they are afraid of alienating the core viewers (women) who think the characters somehow reflect them. Always remember who butters your bread, right?

If she's not that woman who likes self-denial and worships the happiness of others more than her own, then she is a witch (Shelly, Kanika) a tramp (Vishaka in Choti Bahu), or selfish moron (Sid in Aagle Janam...).

I'm curious to see how female characters revolve on Zee and to see how simple some things really are.

I agree with you. When ever I watch these shows I wonder how a women can sacrifice so much and endure such pain time in and time out. I wish these shows would be more realistic. I realize that there are people in the world that give in to situations and make sacrifices but not all the time. Each time a show begins the protagonist is shown to be a very strong women who fights for what she believes in but later on who she was is completely lost for instance the protagonist no longer fights for her rights she lets injustice be done upon her and they show the character as weak person controlled by society. I also wish to see a show where they show a strong women who is not afraid to take a chance and put everything on the line for her what is right.

Love Riya