Pakistani actor and model Rabia Butt recently participated as a panel guest at a local university event, taking a firm stance against the prevalent portrayal of the ‘damsel in distress’ trope in media. The star of “Jeevan Nagar” criticized the common trend of depicting men cheating on their partners, asserting that this narrative often contributes to the portrayal of weak female characters.
Rabia pointed out that the hero character typically involves an extramarital love interest, condemning portrayals that stigmatize strong women as morally questionable. Expressing surprise at the continued popularity of such depictions, she highlighted the strength of real-life women, stating, “Our mothers are so strong, they’ve got all of us on our toes.”
While acknowledging that these stories are a product of the system rather than the work of individuals, Rabia questioned, “Who writes these stories?” She emphasized that blame cannot be solely placed on directors or production houses, as writers play a crucial role in crafting these narratives. Rabia placed responsibility on the audience, stating that viewers who make such stories profitable are equally accountable. She argued, “The audience who continues to watch is also culpable. If a drama featuring a strong woman becomes a flop, why would the production house deliberately risk loss?”
“The crying woman sells,” Rabia asserted, explaining that production houses adapt such stories because they cater to popular demand. She strongly called out the audience’s role in perpetuating harmful gender tropes, stating, “People lie when they say they want something else. They don’t. They want the same old beaten and downtrodden woman who cries to herself in her room alone.”
This is not the first time Rabia has advocated for improved portrayals of women on screen. In her role as a female police officer in the mini-series “Gunah,” she delved into the complexities of her character’s consciousness and shed light on the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated society. In an Instagram post, she expressed the emotional turmoil of portraying such a character and acknowledged the harsh realities of a society that often fails to recognize women’s true potential.
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