Ramadan’s television series annually captivated millions, with families gathering around to watch drama unfold on screen. These series not only entertain but also influence how society sees women and their roles. The positive portrayal of women on screen sends a strong message to audiences about gender equality and the importance of supporting women’s rights. This year’s National Council for Women (NCW) report tracked 39 drama series and 221 advertisements across television and digital platforms, focusing on the portrayal of women.
According to the NCW report, 47% of this year’s shows included positive portrayals that highlighted women’s strength, independence, and emotional depth. Nineteen drama series featured female leads or shared the lead equally with men. These series went beyond the traditional portrayal of women, highlighting real-life struggles and triumphs that women face. Topics such as domestic violence, violence against women, sexual harassment, and many other social issues were explored in ways that resonated with audiences.
A Shift in the Stepmother Narrative
One of the most notable changes this Ramadan was how the stepmother was portrayed. For years, drama series have leaned on the image of the wicked, vengeful stepmother. This year, that changed. In Kamel El Adad++, the female lead raised her stepchildren as her own. She defended them, supported them, and never treated them differently. In Albi w Mofta7o, the stepmother character shared parenting responsibilities equally between her daughter and her stepdaughter. Hakeem Basha also showed a second wife acting with care toward her stepson. In Lam Shamsiya, the stepmother protected her stepson from sexual abuse, supported him emotionally, and stood by him through trauma—while the father and biological mother initially dismissed the situation. These portrayals helped undo long-standing negative stereotypes.
Bringing Women’s Legal and Social Struggles to Light
Several series brought previously ignored women’s issues to the forefront. This included legal rights, emotional labor, and social pressure. Hesbet Omry equitable distribution or spousal support based on contribution (الكد والسعاية حق)—when a woman contributes to her husband’s wealth during marriage. The series followed a divorced woman seeking half her ex-husband’s assets. It showed her fight through legal, social, and economic barriers.
Women at the Center of Family Struggles
Multiple shows explored how women face social and family pressures. Lam Shamsiya dealt with child abuse, bullying, and cheating. The series offered layered female characters who weren’t defined by trauma but shaped by how they responded to it. The storytelling went beyond stereotypes. It examined mental health, generational change, and how women navigate between tradition and personal freedom.
Single Mothers and Second Chances
In Ayesha El Dor, the focus shifted to single mothers balancing parenting, work, and personal growth. The series followed a woman returning to university while raising her children. It showed how family neglect and domestic violence can shape youth behavior.
Breaking Rural Myths
Zolm El Mastaba tackled harmful traditions in rural areas—especially violence by men against women, and by women against each other. It addressed post-divorce trauma, blackmail, and the psychological impact of polygamy. The show explored how rural women deal with legal and emotional fallout.
Economic Power and Everyday Violence
El Ghawi presented a successful female producer while raising questions about gender-based violence. It tackled child custody, alimony, and neglect of divorced mothers. It also showed the struggles of orphans and how women are often forced to carry both emotional and financial burdens alone.
Working Mothers and Modern Parenting
Kamel El Adad++ also highlighted working mothers trying to balance careers and parenting. It showed challenges in blended families, co-parenting after divorce, and dealing with children’s emotional struggles. The series drew a clear contrast between modern and traditional parenting while showing how technology and celebrity culture shape young minds.
Economic Pressure and Female Solidarity
80 Bako focused on young women confronting social conditions, financial challenges, and economic pressures. It showed how female friendships can become survival networks. The storyline emphasized community and resilience over romance.
Religious Marriage, Divorce, and Legal Loopholes
Albi w Mofta7o raised questions around verbal divorce and the misuse of temporary remarriage (“mohalil”). It examined how women are pressured into emotional and religious traps to preserve family status. It also showed the internal conflict many women face when choosing between their children’s needs and their own.
Strong Female Role Models
Athena highlighted the risks of social media addiction and misinformation. But it also offered positive female models—journalists, whistleblowers, and women who speak up for truth in a world full of noise.
Control, Narcissism, and Liberation
El Amira Dell Heeta explored how women resist male control and psychological abuse. The series didn’t glorify revenge—it showed women asserting their boundaries and building lives outside toxic relationships.
The Quiet Violence
W Teqabel Habib addressed a form of abuse rarely shown on screen: emotional and psychological control. It asked what happens when a woman’s life is silently drained without any physical violence—outside the law’s protection, but deeply harmful.
Women in Medicine
Shahadat Mo3amalet Atfal offered a standout portrayal of a female doctor. The character was driven by a genuine passion for her profession. Even when those around her tried to break her spirit, she stayed committed to her work, representing a positive and realistic image of women in healthcare.
Family Protectors and Moral Anchors
Several series featured women as protectors of their families. In El Sharno’a, a wife risked her life for her husband, believing in his innocence. In Hesbet Omry, a woman fought for her financial rights after divorce. These stories showed women not as victims, but as defenders of justice and family stability.
Independent and Self-Aware Characters
Strong female leads also appeared in stories about emotional independence. In El 3atawla 2, a woman refused to return to an abusive relationship, standing firm in her self-respect. Ayesha El Dor featured several women who made decisions independently of men, prioritizing their well-being and growth.
Speaking Up Against Harassment
This year’s dramas didn’t ignore sexual harassment. In Fahd El Batal, Ikhwaty, Athena, and Lam Shamsiya, female characters rejected abuse and exposed their harassers. These portrayals helped normalize women taking public action against harassment, rather than staying silent.
Owning Their Choices in Love
In Sayyed El Nas, El Captain, and 80 Bako, young women were portrayed as emotionally assertive. They pursued relationships on their terms, without waiting for approval or validation. The stories emphasized choice, not dependency.
Support Networks and Emotional Strength
In shows like Om Arba’a w Arba’een, Kamel El Adad++, Albi w Mofta7o, El Amira Dell Heeta, Hesbet Omry, and Ayesha El Dor, women handled conflict with calm and reason. Friendships between women were depicted as safe spaces, and mothers were shown as anchors in their homes.
Daughters Stepping Up for Their Families
Two standout stories showed daughters stepping into leadership roles after family crises. In Fi La7za, a young woman took charge after her father’s death, shielding her family from hardship. In Albi w Mofta7o, the daughter became a pillar of strength for her mother and siblings.