Identity 1 Running Head: SOAP OPERAS AND IDENTITY Influence of Soap Operas on Nepalese Women’s Identity Formation: A Qualitative Study

The purpose of this research project is to report on a qualitative research about the role of television soap operas as a resource employed by Nepalese women in identity work. Currently, Nepalese women live in a cultural context where traditional values often conflict with Western values regarding gender-appropriate behavior. The women identify themselves as traditional even while they attempt to integrate non-traditional beliefs. This research project examines stay-at-home mothers ' representations of themselves, as they discuss female television characters. Self-narratives of women from Kathmandu (N = 20) were obtained through open-ended, in-depth interviews about their favorite Bollywood soap operas. It was expected that as they discussed this widely-viewed cultural tool, they would incorporate characteristics of both heroines and villains to constitute their own selves, drawing upon values from both traditional and Western cultures. Analyses reveal that participants do, indeed, use soap opera characters as a resource for constituting a meaningful self in the face of shifting social identities. The participants were seen to draw texts from both traditional and Western values and seek to maintain a balance. It was observed that women turn towards the Soap Operas for guidance in formulating their own gender-appropriate perspective. This analysis demonstrates how some women are adapting gender roles in today’s confusing, post-modern world. Identity