Indian Serials and Patriarchy?

I have realised one thing… we shame aunties and old women for watching Indian serials a lot. I have lived with my paternal grandparents for almost 5-6 years as a kid. I remember my favourite pastime after coming back from school was to watch Indian serials with my grandmother. Now, that I have graduated college, I see my grandmother switching between 7-8 serials being streamed at the same time. Theres an ad on channel 1? Oh lets go to channel 2 now, then 3 and then 4 and so on… infact, Its been almost 10 years since I shifted out of my grandparents house and my grandmother is rewatching serials that used to stream back when I used to stay with them. Over the years, I have seen my uncles (grandmother’s side) come and tease my grandmother for watching the same shows. Infact, I’ve myself done this. I’ve asked my grandmother why she keeps on watching the same shows when she could be doing something else?

But what else can she do? I’m not saying this to be mean, and I swear I have a point to make here. My grandmother is a Postgraduate. After marriage, she had to be a full time wife, and eventually devote her entire time to being a mother. Ofcourse she had a choice to work but at that time, it wasnt ‘normal’ for a married woman to work. So, what can she do in her free time anyway? She could never learn how to drive, she never had the time to read books, so in her free time, after she cooks for herself and my grandfather, she prays and watches tv shows.

I realised a few days ago only that patriarchy plays such a big role in everything. Women are shamed for watching tv shows, but on the other hand, my grandfather was always praised for watching news related to stocks and business. I think it is vruvial to understand how the gender roles which are assigned to us because of patriarchy, dictate how my grandparents now behave or what they do.

I am however glad that we are questioning these norms in our generation. We are questioning who gets to decide what we do, how we express ourselves, what roles we take on, etc.

I feel like looking at the world solely through this questioning lens has made me understand so many things. It has made me understand where people come from when they say certain things, when they have certain opinions.

I think it has also given me the courage to question those who simply judge and criticise on the smallest of things, especially when these things give someone else joy. It has given me the courage to ask people to question where their opinions are coming from, and to also look at the world from a different lens, indtead of simply being negative.

On a side note, Indian serials, as dramatic and questionable they are, they can be super fun to watch :D