Toxic Masculinity and Passive Femininity: A Content Analysis of Pakistani Television Dramas

When analyzing Pakistan’s current media scene, toxic masculinity in Pakistani television dramas is essential to discuss. This study explores portrayals of toxic masculinity and how women characters respond to them within Pakistani television series. Furthermore, this study is closely aligned with UNSDG 5 to promote gender equality by critically analyzing media representations and societal norms. A qualitative content analysis was used to address this issue. This research aligns with the social cognitive theory that suggests that individuals learn and adapt their behaviors by observing others. It examined the behavioral patterns of the main characters by highlighting toxic actions across the selected drama series. Moreover, this study aligns with feminist media theory of gender roles by offering an in-depth analysis of how masculinity is represented and normalized within these shows. This theory examines how gender roles are assigned to men and women in media, and whether these portrayals challenge or reinforce existing cultural norms associated with men’s behavior. This study gathered data from four popular drama series aired on private channels from 2019 to 2022 that were chosen for their widespread acclaim and numerous awards. The outcomes revealed recurring themes of destructive masculinity featured in these dramas, including various forms of violence, depictions of toxic men and passive women, and unhealthy romantic relationships.