Probing Ideological Construction and Contestation: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Pakistani Drama Bakhtawar

Keeping in view the importance of traditional media as a powerful communicator of cultural values and beliefs, this study aims to explore the ideologies and social practices constructed, legitimized and contested through language. The rationale of this study is to probe the Pakistani drama to unmask the concealed ideologies and social issues being naturalized or addressed. For this purpose, critical discourse analysis provides a theoretical underpinning because it has the power to unravel the social disparities that are portrayed and legitimized through language. The study is qualitative and employs Fairclough’s 3D model (2001) for the analysis of data collected from the drama serial “Bakhtawar” by purposive sampling technique. The analysis reveals that the drama is ideologically invested, and the language loaded with patriarchy illustrates the challenging atmosphere for women. Additionally, the projection of the pejorative image of women through linguistic choices has been observed by the researchers. Moreover, it has been found that the drama first legitimizes the stereotypical beliefs of a patriarchal society and later contests those misogynistic attitudes. Furthermore, it also underscores that life is not a bed of roses for men either by depicting the challenges encountered by Bakhtu.