Get Inspired, Be Empowered Forums Sexism & Patriarchy Sexism in the Indian music industry

8 replies, 8 voices Last updated by Aditi Sahu 2 years ago
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    Anika
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    Sexism is present in every work field. It is rampant especially in the Indian Music Industry.
    Female singers hardly sing in films. Journalist Gurman Bhatia had analysed more than 24,000 Bollywood songs from the 50 highest-grossing movies of every year since 1950 and discovered that the amount of songs sung by women is rapidly declining. People might say it’s dependent on the movie’s story line but even female-led films face a lack of female singers in their movies.
    However, it was not always the case. In the 50s and 60s, the most popular films had female lead singers such as the Mangeshkar sisters who dominated the Indian Music Industry and sung more than their male counterparts.
    Many in the Industry underestimate women and their capability just because of their gender. They wouldn’t have the same attitude with the men in the music industry.
    In fact, if you were to name a song sung by a female singer, it would most likely be an item song. Item songs are very problematic. These songs glorify harassment, stalking and rape. They objectify women. Just about every iconic Bollywood song has misogynistic lyrics. But, it is still popular even today. I think it’s because not many know of the meaning of the songs. As a result, this influences teenagers and they might enact the behavior. This is what happens when there is a lack of female singers, songwriters, producers, engineers and directors.
    Many female singers are calling out the sexism in the music industry. They are questioning the lack of representation for female singers and male singers are doing it too. There needs to be an equal amount of singers from both genders, not just in female led films or item songs. We also need to be mindful of the media we consume.

    anshika agarwal
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    There is sexism running in music industry too.
    As music industry is famous for its melodies and groovy notes but the sad part is that the lyrics of certain songs indirectly promote sexism that is not realised by many people. The misogyny running in Indian music industry has been packaging sexism with catchy beats, popular artists, glamorous attires, megastars, spectacular dance moves and unbelievably creative video settings for so long that it seems a grand music yet bad effort of trying to strip the focus away from its sexist lyrics. And it also has reached to its goal by fooling the majority of the people for years now. One of the evergreen song ‘kabhi kabhi mere dil mai’ wants to say that a woman is sent on globe just for him and she has no purpose in her life other then him. There is a list of songs from 90s and 80s that proves sexism running in music industry. Sexism in music industry is still going on. An item song named ‘aa re pritam pyaare’ a line is there that says ‘pallu ke neeche chupa ke rakha hai utha du toh hungama ho’ this is such a bad line. If we go on deep meaning of the line it gets worst and people dance on it like fire without even noticing the lyrics. It’s so sad to see what our generation has been listening to. This sexism in music industry needs to stop now. It can inly be stopped by the efforts of both music companies as well as people listening to them.
    Music influences society a lot and especially young adults and teenagers. So, the next time whosoever hears the song must know what they are listening and can sing it even with more confidence and proud.

    nehachitroda
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    SEXISM IN THE INDIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY
    Sexism is common in areas of discussion be it a workplace, media, or entertainment industry. It exists because people accept it by supporting sexism and content which makes a gender lower than others. The lyrics of the songs have been so drastically changed in every term and any harsh or bad language is being used and we have also witnessed that women singers are less preferred because major of the industry is taken up by men.
    Songs made by artists in the nineties and back in past times were so unbiased and had no content which would stereotype gender or make one gender inferior or superior but now the song depicts something else and makes a woman gender as an object. Item songs are the most wanted in these times in each movie and directors or producers also think it’s women who have to be lead in item songs and sung by them but other songs from the same movie have an only male lead singer, so gender stereotype exists here too, in fact, if we can conclude then sexism and discrimination and gender divide and many things exist in each field.
    It’s not we don’t have good songs we have songs where women are depicted so decently, songs like ‘Maa’ from movie Tare Zameen pe and ‘Aisa kyu maa’ from Neerja, they are one of the finest in each term but now the sexism and foul language has changed the view of the music industry. Women should be equally given a part in the music industry because no gender is a fix or permanent for any kind of field.

    Shumaila Siddiqui
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    Sexism is everywhere because we are making it happen, so it surely does exist in Indian music industry also. Every other industry is making sexism common and promoting it openly, so we can’t blame theentertainment industry only, but the whole society is letting this happen.

    Indian music industry has varied range of singers who sang beautiful songs and still they are making some great music. But if we look at the records of the songs sang in a year it’s mostly the male tropes of singers and female have hardly sung some lines only.

    Women singers are given 3 to 4 lines to sing in a duet song and the remaining is sung by male singers. This kind of opportunities are making their talent dim and their career is also not rising up to the par. Live concerts are also dominated by the male singers and female get hardly recognition in live concerts . Male singers are hyped even if they are not so good singers.

    Earlier there used to be female singers who have sang some exceptional songsand they have got their due fame and money. But as we are moving ahead women singers are hardly given the opportunity to sing Bollywood song composition.

    Even the pay disparity exist in music industry. There are not enough songs for female singers and this is making them to leave the industry and make a career alternate than Bollywood on their own feet.

    Sona Mohapatra has come out and raised her voice against the sexism that is running in the music industry. She said many are afraid to talk about it as they don’t want to lose the tiny chance to make their mark in the industry.

    She stated “women can complain about the wrongdoers or else she hustles hard to mark her own existence with another path”.

    The male brigade and the society is doing everything possible to pin down the women almost in every industry but our gritty women’s are emerging triumphantly in every field.
    Yet we need to pit female singers in many songs because they deserve a great opportunity.
    They will shine if we give them a right light.

    Yash Tiwari
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    Indians are very tolerant of sexism. The sexism starts from home, it is there that boys have more freedom to do as they wish while girls are given restrictions. Songs with obscene lyrics glamorize violence against women. It is common to see the police in these songs only to show that men can get away with violent crimes because of their social status. Sexism continues to be a dominant and disturbing element in Indian music that affects the careers of women pop singers and often prevents them from rising to stardom. Also, it has its reflection in television shows, cinema, social events, family functions, etc.

    The Indian music industry is vast and unlike others is a multi-billion industry. Yet it faces allegations of sexism which has put a question mark on its integrity. Not that the male gender has been issued with a clean chit but the female gender has been receiving accusations of objectification and suppression. There is a growing gender bias in the Indian music industry. As much as we like to ignore that it is a part of the system, our growing culture of being ‘smooth’ and ‘cool’ encourages patriarchy in our sub-cultures. As men and women hear these songs, they grow up assuming norms, traditions, and stereotypes as normal. Thus begins the oppression of the fight for equality.

    Bollywood is known to make item songs to sell their movie. Director’s or producers think it’s women who have to be lead in item songs and sung by them but other songs from the same movie have an only male lead singer, so gender stereotype exists here too but it’s visible and everyone is objectifying women by putting them in such degrading roles as this. Women are much more compared to men, they are shown as a commodity for arousing passion which is not at all justified. The songs produced by the mainstreamed musicians depicts women as an object of sexual desire and it does not even have a positive impact on a person’s sexual life.

    As a society, the acceptance of women to this extent will be still a long way for us to go. To remove sexism the first step is made by looking at the roots of how we got there, and that in itself is not easy. The harder thing to do is not accept something as normal and acceptable, but rather change it back into what it should be ― un-normal and unacceptable by dismantling everything that taught us sexism as normal.

    Semantee Chattopadhyay
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    Promoting colourism completely shunning consent and so much more- a lot of the popular music we hear these days please such a big part in the deep-rooted message of me and patriarchy. The mainstream hip hop and pop scene in India has made it a point to butt its nose in places where it really and truly doesn’t belong. They are living in a parallel universe and need to stop what they are doing. They should stop thinking women are gold diggers and they only run after men for luxury items and money. Showering women with material objects like diamonds and luxury items is a way for them to further their complexes with masculinity. What makes them think that women can’t afford these kinds of stuff for themselves? What they should be working for is equal pay, mutual pleasure, sharing household responsibilities and basic respect. The music industry needs to stop fetishising women’s bodies. Talking about their bodies and fetishising them is not as romantic as one thinks. It is kind of creepy! By doing this not only are artists validating others bodies and creating an ideal but also have put themselves in a position where they can claim ownership of our bodies. Objectification is not okay! They should stop villainizing their previous partners. We live in a society where the ‘jilted lover’ trope has gone on long enough. By villainizing a woman for rejecting you, you are taking away the power of autonomy and decision-making. It makes a woman the subject of ridicule, abuse and revenge. They should stop furthering the stereotypes. From the lyrics to visuals, most of the songs for the several highly problematic stereotypes. There’s the alpha male, a naughty bad party girl and a demure shy girl who just wants to get married! They should stop creating and healthy stereotypes of what people are like. There are multiple shades to a person and the music industry needs to stop putting everyone in a box.

    Manpreet Singh
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    Although Indian music can be acclaimed worldwide because of its melodies and groovy notes, the sad aspect is that certain songs’ texts discreetly promote sexism, which many overlook. The misogynist Indian music business has been so involved in sexism with catchy beats, popular singers, attractive attires, megastars, and fantastic dance movements, and incredibly imaginative video settings that it seems like a great yet sad effort to get the spotlight off its sexist text. And for decades, it has succeeded in deceiving most people. Do you remember that music from the late seventies and eighties was deemed iconic and evergreen? Well, you’re going to be in shock if you pay close attention to the lyrics. Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh’s popular song “Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein” describes a sense of entitlement to the lady, stating she was intended for him on earth, and indicating she has no purpose in life.
    Only in the 80s and 90s did his scenario get worse. When people start applauding and supporting musicians such as Yo Yo Honey Singh who promote all the wrong things from racism to shame, you begin to feel that this will not help you. And the ludicrous number of items still target women shows the pathos of the Indian music industry’s people. It’s absolutely worrying and terrible to see what society is listening to from the song Fevicol Se that called “tandoori margins” ready for consumption to Laila Main Laila, presenting women as objects to sexual desire. Music has a highly widespread influence on society, its values, and conduct, in particular young people and adults. The triste reality is, however, that some genuine change occurs with the songs which score high on the charts. Favor of stalking, taunting, forcing, harassment by the public, objectivizing, annoying, discriminatory, and fat-shaming must cease immediately. The much-needed changes in the Indian music industry can also lead to music makers and fans together. So, the next time you hear a song, try to truly comprehend what it means and raise your voice when you perceive something wrong with the song message

    Aditi Sahu
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    Music has the power to influence the youth. And to see today’s music industry thriving on its sexist lyrics is just saddening, and Indian music industry probably stands on the top of it.

    Sexism in music industry is not a new thing, you can listen to any old Bollywood song, and you’ll find how problematic a lot of lyrics are. So many lyrics are either objectifying women or making a joke out of the importance of consent. This is only led the youth to believe in the wrong and harmful notions of how women should be treated. Often consent is overlooked and over-possessiveness is romanticized, all because that is what our youth has learnt from all the media they are exposed to, be it the movies or the music.

    This is very harmful for our society and sexism in popular media needs to addressed. These issues are often ignored but it is more important now than ever before to arrive to a solution to eradicate misogyny and sexism in the Indian music industry.

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