Gendered perceptions in Punjab, Pakistan: structural inequity, oppression and emergence

ABSTRACT

This paper aims at analysing the perceptions associated with gender in two generations under the changing socio-structural conditions in a rural community of the Punjab, Pakistan. It is an effort to unravel various factors for carrying and challenging long existing social perceptions in the village. Social, religious, economic and technological interventions are pertinent to consider, besides foreign remittances and other cultural influences are not just bringing shift in economic statuses of people but also their thinking styles. Probability sample survey was conducted; two age groups were selected to assess the intergenerational differences. The young respondents (15–35 years) and old respondents (60+) were selected through systematic sampling technique; for qualitative data, 48 cases were interviewed. Younger females are facing the greatest familial and community pressure when it comes to their life decisions; simultaneously, they aspire to attain economic independence which would bring change in gendered perceptions and their overall social status. The study is one of its kind in which both quantitative and qualitative techniques were employed to comprehend the intergenerational gendered perception, it provides an insight into how social and structural elements play their role in constructing social disparity and challenging attitude of the younger generation.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender roles
• outdoor earnings
• intergenerational differences
• education
• economic factor
• rural community

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ayesha Farooq

Ayesha Farooq has a PhD in sociology from the University of the Punjab. She also works as an assistant professor at Government College University Lahore, Pakistan. Her research work covers structural changes in various social institutions particularly in the rural Punjab. She has published articles on the marriage and the family institution, caste system, the emergence of class systems, gender roles and the prevalence of superstitions in villages