The Portrayal of Gender In Selected Amharic Films

Hirut, Admasu

dc.contributor.author	Hirut, Admasu
dc.date.accessioned	2022-10-28T12:44:38Z
dc.date.available	2022-10-28T12:44:38Z
dc.date.issued	2022-08
dc.identifier.uri	http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/14293
dc.description.abstract	The main objective of this research was to show and critically analyze the portrayal of gender in selected Amharic films. This study is qualitative and employs textual and content analysis. Eight films are selected and taken as texts. The films were selected based on their content that calls gender perspective, the directors‟ gender, and the presence of a strong protagonist woman character. Among the selected films, Rabboni (2014) (Teacher), Trafikuwa (2012) (The Traffic Policewoman), City Boyz (2014), and Fikir Beagatami (2013) (Love by accident) are directed by female; Endateketelgen (2015) (Do not follow me), And Equl (2018) (One up), Semayawi (2020) (Heavenly), and Anlakekim (2014) (We will not leave each other) are male directed films. Based on the criteria the films were critically analyzed using Feminist film theory (gaze theory), psychoanalytical feminism, post-structural feminist approach (deconstruction), the social construction of gender, and gender and power relations. These theories were used eclectically. In applying the theories, extracted scenes that are suitable for showing gender relationships and/or power relations were taken from the films and examined. The findings of the analysis indicate that female characters are portrayed dominantly as beautiful, strong, self-confident, and independent. Women in the films are professional; they are not the object of male desire rather they are the subject of the story. They are goal-oriented, knowledgeable, powerful, and successful in the storyline. On the contrary, male characters tried their best to get what they want but were unable to be successful on their own. They found what they want with the help of female characters. Moreover, male characters are portrayed as handsome, psychologically weak, powerless, and indecisive. The sources of women‟s power in the films are the ways they grew up, the materials they own, and the knowledge they acquire in the story world. The females in the films are made to exercise the full freedom of being female which is unlikely for films produced in a highly patriarchal society. In conclusion, these Amharic films are attempting to serve as change-makers in gender power relations in the Ethiopian society through their portrayal of women that challenge and reverse taken for granted stereotypical roles and characteristics assigned to women.	en_US
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US
dc.subject	English Language and Literature	en_US
dc.title	The Portrayal of Gender In Selected Amharic Films	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US