Women and journalism in India. Analysis of the leadership roles of the vulnerable female audience in the documentary Writing with Fire

Abstract

: Introduction. Within the socio-cultural structure of the Indian caste system, Dalit women have historically been silenced and marginalized. However, a small group of them has created a media outlet determined to challenge these hegemonic narratives, using journalism as a tool for social transformation. This production not only seeks to make their experiences visible but also actively promotes empowerment and female leadership through professional work and narrative autonomy. The analyzed film demonstrates how social cinema and journalism can serve as mechanisms for reshaping the traditional roles of women in contexts of structural oppression. Objective. This study aimed to analyze how the attributes of female leadership are constructed and represented in a film centered on Dalit women journalists, exploring the potential of social cinema as a medium to transform traditional perceptions of women’s roles in society. Methodology. A thorough review of the literature on leadership and gender studies was conducted, complemented by a theoretical framework based on classical approaches to film analysis by authors such as Casetti and Di Chio. Additionally, a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), following Teun A. van Dijk’s original framework, was applied to examine the narrative, symbolic, and discursive structure of the film. The analysis focused on three main axes: a) Representation of female leadership, b) Construction of empowerment through caste and gender, and c) The articulation of cinema as a means of social transformation. Results. The study revealed that the women protagonists reconfigure traditional leadership styles by incorporating dimensions such as collaboration, resistance from marginality, and community engagement. The audiovisual discourse highlights a rupture with gender and caste stereotypes, portraying a narrative in which women are not merely victims of the system but agents of change. Moreover, journalism is shown not only as a means of denunciation but also as an emancipatory practice and a space for identity affirmation. The film's narrative illustrates the exercise of transformative leadership grounded in collective action, sisterhood, and the redefinition of the political system through everyday practices. Conclusions. This research underscores the relevance of social cinema as a space for critical reflection and a pedagogical tool for rethinking gender roles and leadership. Journalism, as practiced by Dalit women, does more than inform—it directly contributes to the construction of new female subjectivities. Thus, it is essential to continue exploring the power of audiovisual and media narratives in promoting female empowerment, especially within contexts of profound structural inequality such as the caste system.