Communicating gender in popular Punjabi music: objectification, masculinity, and stereotypical identities

Verma, Shankey ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2833-1840, Choudhury, Rashmi and Choudhury, Tanni (2026) Communicating gender in popular Punjabi music: objectification, masculinity, and stereotypical identities. Communication Research and Practice. Taylor and Francis Ltd. . ISSN 2206-3374 (In Press) Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2026.2715880

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Abstract

Punjabi popular music has become a widely consumed form of popular communication, reaching large domestic and diasporic audiences through digital platforms such as YouTube. This study examines how gender is represented in the lyrics of 20 widely viewed Punjabi songs released in 2021. Drawing on feminist theory, objectification theory, and gender schema theory, the study employed inductive thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in the representation of masculinity and femininity. Three interrelated themes emerged: stereotypical gendered identities, objectification of women, and glorification of toxic masculinity. The findings indicate that women are frequently portrayed through restrictive ideals of beauty, materialism, and dependency, whereas masculinity is associated with dominance, control, and aggression. The study highlights Punjabi song lyrics as cultural texts through which gendered meanings are articulated, circulated, and reproduced within contemporary popular culture.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Punjabi popular music | Gender representation | Objectification of women | Toxic masculinity | Song lyrics
Subjects: Social Sciences and humanities > Arts and Humanities > Visual Arts and Performing Arts
Social Sciences and humanities > Psychology > General Psychology
Social Sciences and humanities > Social Sciences > Gender Studies
Depositing User: Mr. Syed Anas Ali
Date Deposited: 11 Aug 2026 08:37
Last Modified: 11 Aug 2026 08:37
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2026.2715880
URI: https://pure.jgu.edu.in/id/eprint/12183

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