Marriage remains a near-universal social mandate. Arranged marriage, though evolving with online matrimonial sites and the “boy-meeting-girl” format, is still the norm. The wedding, a multi-day, expensive ritual, is often the pinnacle of a woman’s social validation. Dowry, legally banned but socially rampant, continues to be a source of violence and financial strain. Fertility is prized, with immense pressure to bear children, especially sons, due to their role in funeral rites and family lineage in Hindu culture.
: This study uses media as a lens to explore the "New Indian Woman" construction, examining how globalization and tradition coexist in women's lifestyles.
