Professional women vs domestic expectations: Doctor Bahu wins praise for highlighting sugarcoated patriarchy in ‘modern homes’

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ARY delves into the world of doctors with their new drama serial Doctor Bahu, revolving around two different families bound to meet. Starting off, the drama serial pictures an ambitious doctor, Sania(Kubra Khan), working hard towards a specialization in surgery. With a supportive middle-class family by her side, she is the first doctor in the family.

Salman (Shuja Asad), on the other hand, comes from a family of doctors who chose a different career path than his family. He is an entrepreneur who owns an auto showroom and is working to expand his business. He has a troubled relationship with his father, who believes he is wasting his time outside the field of medicine and should return to his family’s enterprise.

Accidental encounters bring Sania and Salman together, while the families plot a marriage in the background. With great prospects for her future, Sania is set to be wed into a family where a woman’s career is not of utmost importance; rather, women doctors are expected to cater only to their husbands’ needs. Held back by the patriarchal notions, a doctor daughter-in-law is expected but her pursuing her career is discouraged.

The drama serial pinpoints the expectations society has of women after they are married, regardless of whether they come from an affluent family. The family that requires a label of “doctor” with their daughter-in-law does not allow her to work once she is married. She is left to make coffee and omelettes for her husband, who is constantly working to advance his career.

The unique plot has hooked viewers, who look forward to the new storyline. Appreciating the first week’s episodes of Doctor Bahu, a user posted on X and said:

Highlighting the key plot of the drama serial, a viewer commented:

A user added that Doctor Bahu aptly gives a realistic perspective of the mindset of many in the society. They posted:

Holding onto how the patriarchal mindset flows into the elite class as well, a netizen said:

Calling the storyline relatable, a netizen added:

In the hope that the right message is delivered, another netizen posted:

Finding Salman’s story relatable, a user stated:

The reality of treating personal choices as a failure, a user added:

One added: