Journal of Gender and Social Issues seeks to highlight cutting edge research in social sciences and allied disciplines, with a view to bringing to light the latest in intelligent thought and innovative ideas. The journal team is currently headed by the VC, FJWU, as Patron-in-Chief and Director, WRRC as Editor. The editorial team comprises of in house subject experts as well as national and international academics who serve on the Advisory and Editorial Boards and assisst the editor in achiving highest standards of excellence in research.
The study explores the culture of silence regarding rape in Pakistan over the last decade. The study is qualitative, uses a purposive sampling technique. The data collected in two forms: first, annual reports from the HRCP of 2013-2023, and second, Dawn News reports from 2013-2023. The system theory of violence and the Gramsci theory of hegemony used to analyze the data. The results from HRCP reports show a yearly increase in rape cases. The findings further show data discrepancies and missing information, fixing reporting in the next few years and acknowledging data issues. The results from newspaper analysis reveal a yearly increase in reporting of rape cases, crimes alongside rape, language construction in reporting, location of the rape incidents, as well as the identity of victims and perpetrators. The findings also concluded that a lack of correct and consistent data is a limitation for further studies of rape in Pakistan.
Culture, Crimes, Hegemony, Rape, Violence, Victims
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Gender and Social Issues
Amplifying Female Voices in Pakistani Primetime Drama: A Cultural Feminist Analysis of the Drama Serial 'Udaari'
This research unveils the sexual abuse against women and children in Pakistan through a cultural feminist perspective, which highlights the inequalities and disparities women face in patriarchal societies. It critically analyzes the Urdu drama serial Udaari’s role in women’s empowerment. The content analysis was used as a data collection method. The results of this research reveal that despite being a part of a patriarchal society, women direly scuffle to take a stand for their fundamental rights. They expose the abusers, and instead of considering themselves as victims, they consider themselves as survivors. Furthermore, it also highlights that when survivors and their families take a firm stand against sexual abuse, it becomes inevitable for the judiciary to provide justice to oppressed women. This drama also concludes that despite several challenges in the judicial system, the judicial system in Pakistan can still be trusted to seek justice for women in society.
Cultural Feminism, Patriarchy, Sexual Abuse, Udaari.
Urinary Tract Infections and Vulnerability of Women: A Socio-Medical Review using Gender Lens
The current research studies public health concerns about Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in Islamabad. The study's main objective was to assess the frequency of UTIs, the bacteria responsible, and their patterns of Antibiotic resistance among UTI patients. The design for the research on antimicrobial resistance in UTI patients is correlational and comparative, where 1000 lab reports were obtained from 5 renowned verified and registered Laboratories located in Islamabad by visiting them in person. Two hundred fifteen lab reports (out of 1000) showed positive microbial growth on culture indicative of Urinary Tract Infection. Furthermore, this paper presents a gendered review of the trend analysis of antibiotic resistance in UTI patients in the capital city of Pakistan (Islamabad). The research paper extensively analyzes UTI trends in male and female patients. It offers a gendered analysis of women’s greater vulnerability to develop UTIs compared to men, beyond bio-medical reasons.
Gender Lens, Medical & Social Analysis, Urinary Tract Infection
Violence Against Women in Nepal: Exploring Challenges and Strategies for Women Empowerment
This research investigates the dynamics of violence against women in Nepal and proposes strategies for women's empowerment within this context. Drawing on secondary data from the Annual Report of Nepal Police, INSEC, WOREC, and newspapers, the paper offers a nuanced analysis. Methodologically, qualitative analysis is employed, utilizing thematic analysis to discern patterns and challenges. The study is grounded in the feminist theoretical framework, which examines power dynamics and gender inequality as central to understanding violence against women. Findings highlight the pervasive nature of violence, compounded by socio-cultural norms, legal inadequacies, and economic disparities. While existing mechanisms face hurdles, promising strategies such as legal reforms and community mobilization offer avenues for progress. Through investments in education, economic opportunities, policy reforms, and grassroots advocacy, Nepal can create environments enabling women to fulfill their potential. In conclusion, addressing violence against women necessitates a multifaceted approach, emphasizing empowerment through interventions and policy reforms.
Empowerment, Exploitation, Strategies, Violence Against Women
The Care Economy in Rural Context: A Gendered Perspective
Domestic care work has historically been ignored and not calculated in national or international statistics. The study intended to investigate the time spent by both men and women on domestic care activities and calculate the economic value of these activities. The sample size included 495 participants (248 females and 247 males) from rural Chakwal using a purposive sampling technique. The results revealed significant gender differences in the time spent on domestic care activities, with females spending 87,060 hours on all domestic care activities, such as children, elderly, domestic care, and people with special needs. Meanwhile, males spend only 25,795 hours on domestic care activities monthly. The economic value calculated for care activities for females is 13.4 million rupees, and for men is 4 million rupees in a month. The study emphasizes promoting shared family domestic care responsibilities and increasing societal recognition of the importance of caregiving activities.
Domestic Care, Economic Value, Gender Analysis, Unpaid Care Work
Relationship between Childhood Trauma and Hysteria in Pakistani Females
This research was conducted to find out the nature of trauma that might have occurred in early childhood and resulted in the person developing psychological symptoms of Hysteria. The result of the study shows a significant positive relationship (r =.49, **p<.01) between childhood trauma and the development of Hysteria among females. Different sorts of traumas were also identified in this research. The findings of the research are interesting as they have strong implications for developing therapeutic interventions for females suffering from Hysteria. Hence, this research will be highly beneficial for future researchers and clinicians as well as for raising consciousness among Pakistani females.
Copyright (c) 2024 Journal of Gender and Social Issues
Studying Intersectionality in Research on Minority and Ethnic Women’s Leadership in Higher Education in Pakistan
This paper contributes to the study of gender, leadership, and identity by investigating how gender, ethnicity, and class may either hinder or facilitate access to leadership positions, both during and after assuming a leadership role. This paper specifically focuses on the experiences of minority and ethnic women leaders in public and private universities in Pakistan. The author employs an approach of intersectionality to leadership methodology by using their own autobiographical account as a starting point for the research. The findings are analysed through the lenses of feminist, intersectional, and critical autobiographical theory. The paper introduces the literature, describes the research design, and discusses the initial findings, highlighting the key themes that emerged from the data. The results indicate that minority and ethnic women face greater challenges and obstacles in their roles as leaders compared to their majority counterparts. Additionally, minority and ethnic women's perceptions of leadership, and their experiences as leaders.
Intersectionality, Educational Leadership, Female leadership, Higher Education
Economic Empowerment: A Strategy to Address Gender based Violence
This study examines the prevalent issue of gender inequality in material resources and its relationship to violence against women in Pakistan, focusing on Lady Health Workers (LHWs) in Karachi. The study uses a quantitative research approach and a survey research design to evaluate the status of working women in Karachi, especially LHWs. 200 participants completed a self-structured questionnaire that focused on demographic data, measures of economic empowerment, and violent situations at home. The findings show that LHWs have a complicated financial situation, even though they contribute to the family income. They also have serious difficulties saving money and owning a home. The results also highlight the startling prevalence of violence against women, as 20% of participants shared personal accounts of encounters. The survey highlights how important it is for lawmakers to take action in order to solve issues like equitable job opportunities, property rights, and violence against women.
Access to Resources, Economic Empowerment, Gender Disparity, Lady Health Workers, Violence against Women
Women’s Rights in Nepal: A Constitutional Insight
The authors delve into study of constitutional protection for women in Nepal. There are several clauses in the Nepalese Constitution that promote and defend women's rights. The charter grants women a variety of rights under Article 38, including the right to procreate, the right to lineage, and the right to be free from all forms of discrimination. The constitution provides the right to proportionate participation in state apparatuses and one-third representation in the legislature in an effort to advance the cause of women. The state would undoubtedly benefit from these advancements if it wanted to establish gender-sensitive laws and policies.
Constitution, Gender equality, Law, Nepal, Women
Exploring Socio-Cultural Perspectives and Experiences of Elderly: A Case Study of Baghban Old Home, Rawalpindi
Modernization has transformed Pakistani culture into a new age, with a series of shifts in society and the family system that have generated imbalances in family ties. This research reflects on how Pakistani culture has evolved concerning the socio-cultural patterns and experiences of the elderly as part of the Pakistani population. To carry out this research, the researcher has used an ethnographic approach, selecting Baghban Old Age Home, Rawalpindi. A purposeful sampling technique was used based on the availability of the respondents. In-depth interviews were conducted to extract a variety of ideas and beliefs regarding the issues facing the elderly. Living with the elderly with a family that does not care about them is difficult, although people living in the old home have been there for a variety of reasons. Some people were not comfortable with the idea of residing in an old home.
Elderly, Old Age Home, Modernization, Nuclear Family
Inclusive Education and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: A Comprehensive Reflection
It is incumbent upon both the state and society to institute protective measures for individuals with disabilities, recognizing this as a matter of human rights. In alignment with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: individuals with disabilities are entitled to the full spectrum of rights. ensuring their freedom for the complete enjoyment of their entitlements. This paper concentrates on three fundamental rights crucial for the dignified existence of individuals with disabilities in society: education, health, and employment. Additionally, it sheds light on a particularly vulnerable segment of society, namely women with disabilities, who may encounter various forms of discrimination in their quest for survival within the community. The study concludes that while the convention acknowledges the rights of individuals with disabilities and outlines comprehensive provisions for their basic rights in education, health, and employment, the actual implementation of these rights remains contentious.
Education, Inclusive, Persons with Disabilities, UN Convention
A Metamodernist Reading of Multiple Subjectivities in Orphan Black
From a metamodern viewpoint, human subjectivity is an oscillation between two or more intrinsic extremes in the spectrum of self. The Canadian science fiction TV series Orphan Black uses clones to portray the concept of multiple subjectivities.. The goal of this study is to examine the manifestations of this multiplicity in order to gain an understanding of the existence of the subject in the contemporary metamodernist world. In order to locate the subjects from the selected texts in the metamodern world, the study will use textual analysis as a method under the qualitative paradigm.
Copyright (c) 2023 Journal of Gender and Social Issues
Behind Closed Doors: Women Experiencing Rising Family Violence Amidst COVID-19 Lockdown In Ghana
This study examined family violence cases during the coronavirus lockdown in Ghana. The study adopted an explanatory design and gathered quantitative data using a questionnaire from 159 women who lived with their spouses or intimate partners. The study also conducted focus group discussions to gather qualitative data. Results showed that 41% of respondents suffered sexual violence, 27% experienced psychological violence and 32% experienced to physical violence. The finding showed that social isolation, loss of jobs, and boredom, which are consequences of lockdown, breed frustration in men, expressed through abusive behaviors towards women. The study recommended strengthening research and planning on novel diseases, providing temporary living arrangements for victims and those at risk of family violence, mechanisms for reporting suspected and actual abuse, and enforcement of pandemic surveillance and emergency preparedness plan. The study concluded with the optimism that the findings would stimulate further research on pandemic management and family violence.
Altered Notion of Time, Space and Privacy: Teaching in times of the COVID Pandemic
Based on an exploratory study, this article centers on teachers’ reflections on their experience of online teaching during COVID-19. Revolving around the work versus home distinction, it delineates how the experience of an online classroom whilst being present in the comfort of homes, has if not completely then significantly altered the women’s perception of work. It primarily focuses on the binaries of work-leisure and private-public and how these have been affected. The methodology is narrative based, conversational interviews, conducted with female instructors at university level in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, who have had to adapt to online teaching since the start of the pandemic. Women struggled with their private, domestic space being made public via the online class with their cameras and recordings. This was experienced under the backdrop of the cultural, patriarchal values, which altered women’s perception of work.
Resurrecting Voice: A Subaltern Study of Doshi and Singh’s Selected Poems
Due to the emerging academic scope of subaltern studies, it is crucial to have a nuanced understanding of peripheral narratives of/about the subaltern women exposed to brutality and injustices for a long time. This study aims at adding another dimension to Spivak’s famous question, Can the Subaltern Speak? In the light of the selected poems, it can be said that the unheard stories of the subaltern have no means of expression because of the long-endured marginalization. Rather than dismissing the brutal treatment towards the women, it is significant to resurrect their voices. The present study attempts to revive and rejuvenate these voices and prevent them from fading away completely. The study does so by conducting a textual analysis of selected poems of Tishani Doshi and Chandni Singh.
Islamic Microfinance and Women Empowerment: A Case Study of Akhuwat Foundation
This study analyzes the role of Islamic microfinance in empowering women. For this, fifty female borrowers who invested the loan in an income generating activity were interviewed. Questions were asked to find whether it has any impact on the material condition of female borrowers after using the loan, and how access to credit contributes to the empowerment of female borrowers. The findings show that, using the loan for an income generating activity, made women able to spend money on household expenses, health and education of the family. It was observed that microfinance had no impact on women's mobility and awareness level. Access to credit cannot be expected to lead to women's empowerment unless it is accompanied by awareness of rights. The study highlights that the purpose of the loan should not only be to improve the material situation of women, but also to improve their status and position in society.
Race, Gender and Class Diversity in Media: A Study of Rejection of Stereotypes in The Help, The Great Debaters and A Raisin in the Sun
Media plays a significant role in the representation of social and cultural scenarios, highlighting discrimination based on ethnicity, social status, and sex. These media representations play an influential role in maintaining social constructs of binary identities, such as black or white, male or female, and middle or lower class. This study tends to explore the diversification of social and racial hierarchies portrayed in films with a focus on people categorized as ‘other’. In contrast to the set pattern, the films examined in this study display multiple perspectives about images of the black people and white women and do not put them in stereotypical categories. The selected films have subverted the so-called established ideas about African-Americans being uncivilized, uneducated, and unworthy and show that all individuals regardless of the established stereotypes can achieve their dreams. Moreover, media has a link with social realities and the rampant racist scenario.
Towards a New Paradigm for Future Development Pathway (FATIMA JINNAH LECTURE)
Since the late 1940s when the developing countries started gaining independence, development literature was dominated by pessimists who believed that these countries were condemned to live in poverty, hunger and illiteracy. Prebisch-Singer hypothesis advanced the proposition that the developing countries produce agricultural commodities whose demand by advanced countries would be limited while they have to rely upon the advanced countries for imports of industrial products. Therefore, the primary commodity exporters would continue to face a secular decline in terms of trade due to a combination of low income and price elasticities of demand. This decline would transfer income from poor to rich countries and thus contact with the international economy was detrimental to the welfare of the developing countries and would retard growth keeping these countries entrapped in poverty. They proposed that the only way to avert this tendency was to protect domestic manufacturing industries by pursuing import substitution strategy.
Digital Appropriation of Children’s Literature: A Postmodernist Critique of Red Riding Hood
The twenty-first century is considered the age of digital revolution. Digital literature is considered the product of the postmodern era. Exposure to digital technologies and access to various cultures has changed the way themes and stories are presented in digital or electronic literature for children. These changes are not only the result of development in technology but also the influence of postmodernism. This paper studies digital literature created for children to explore the influence of postmodernism. The digital text chosen for analysis is Red Riding Hood (2001) by Dona Leishman. The study aims to determine how digital literature appropriates a classical text and offers perspectives on gender and social roles through various elements that it employs. Postmodernism comprises a large number of issues. In this study postmodernism is taken to mean challenging of metanarratives, existence of chaos in the world and blurring of boundaries.
Addressing the Feminine in Cosmetic Advertisements
The linguistic and semiotic configurations used in Pakistani advertisements propose a significant dimension in exploring the ways in which a beauty narrative centering on femininity is created and represented. In this context, this research examines the linguistic and semiotic features used in the Pakistani discourse of advertising to study the beauty narrative created by the advertisers through addressing the feminine. The data consists of the advertisement texts shared on the official Facebook pages of three cosmetic brands. A socio-semiotic approach to discourse analysis is used to study the linguistic and semiotic representations in the advertisement texts to examine how the feminine is portrayed in these advertisements with respect to style, attitude, identity etc. The findings indicate that a certain woman image based on the respective perceptions of feminine beauty ideals of the producers is created and represented that focus mainly on the white skin, young age, and glamorous persona.
Beyond Gender Binary: Social Acceptance of the Third Gender in Pakistan
This study is based on social acceptance issues of transgenders in Pakistan. Gender non binary groups gained more visibility after the Supreme Court decision to recognize them as the third gender to give them their due rights. Despite the Supreme Court verdict, the third gender group continues to face stigmatization and is unable to participate in normal social and economic lives available to the majority of people in Pakistan. Through in-depth interviews of 25 transgenders, this article analyzes the different social and institutional biases faced by khawaja siras after their identity disclosure. The labeling theory and symbolic interactionism are used as theoretical framework. The findings indicate that the khawaja sira community faces exclusion because society does not recognize them as a separate gender identity beyond gender binary (male-female dichotomy). For this reason, transgenders have to hide their true identity under the cover of either fake male or female.
Smartphone Applications in Skill Development and Women Entrepreneurship: Analyzing Perceptions of Young Females’ Smartphone Applications in Skill Development and Women Entrepreneurship
The use of smartphone applications have brought a massive change and empowered the personal and professional lives of women by providing a platform to enhance their talent. Main purpose of this study was to examine the usage of smartphone applications in skill development and digital entrepreneurships among females. Further the research study explored how smart phones provide platforms for early startups and how the young women are implementing the skills to their practical life. Qualitative research approach was used by focus group discussions. The study concluded that there are lots of beneficial uses of smartphone applications. Smartphone application works as a platform which gives lots of opportunities to women to enhance their abilities, skills and entrepreneurship. It is in-expensive and user-friendly medium of learning and earning and aiding in the empowerment of young women
Institutional Intersectionality: Violence against Kashmiri Women in ‘The Half Mother’
In the present world, identity and identity formation determines the representation and manners of interaction. Intersectionality has become the predominant way of conceptualizing the relation between systems of oppression which construct our multiple identities and our social locations in hierarchies of power and privilege. This research examines ways in which marginalization and state-sponsored violence against Kashmiri women results from intersectional identity. The phenomenon of Kashmiri women becoming ‘half widows’ and ‘half mothers’ as the consequence of intersecting variables has been explored in the context of Shahnaz Bashir’s novel The Half Mother (2014). The findings suggest the various facets of Kashmiri women’s identity which lead to her oppressed status. It gives a deep insight into the female sufferings in particular and miseries of Kashmir conflict victims in general, it also throws light on the ways these human sufferings get depicted in literature.
Apology Responses and Politeness of Pakistani English and British English Speakers: Culture and Gender Perspectives
This study examines sociocultural, pragmatic, and gender differences between native speakers of British English (BritE) and Pakistani English speakers (PakE) in expressing apology responses (ARs). Based on a discourse completion task (DCT) using data from 60 speakers of both cultures, the study focuses on the variations in the use of apology response strategies in three severe and three non-severe situations. The findings show that the two groups use a variety of strategies in expressing apology responses. The majority of BritE speakers tend to use ARs with the relatively strong hearer-oriented strategies (Acceptance). PakE ARs, on the other hand, seem to be dominated by the frequent use of Acknowledgment, with speaker-oriented strategies. These results have proven that both male and female English-using Pakistanis are amazingly obvious and direct in their apology responses.
Socio-Economic and Educational Challenges Faced by the Transgender Community in Pakistan
Copyright (c) 2022 Journal of Gender and Social Issues
Does Killing Restore Honor? Perspectives of Male University Students of Punjab
Critique of Text and Review of Beig's “Literary Translations in Urdu Language”
Translation is an important means of transporting the culture of one language to another. This article critiques a paper titled “Urdu Adab mein Tarjamon ka Jaiza [An analysis of Translations in Urdu Literature]” written by Mirza Hamid Beig and the review on the paper by Dr. Sohail Ahmad Khan written in Urdu. The review analyses the opinion of the writer of the article and the comments of the reviewer, Dr. Khan on various aspects of the article. The students of Urdu literature, writers and readers will be interested in reading the opinion presented by Mirza Hamid Beig and the review by Dr. Sohail Khan.
Women’s Inheritance Rights in the West Pakistan Muslim Personal Law, Shariat Act 1962: An Analysis of Practices
This study aims to explore the socio-cultural and legal practices that create barriers for women in Pakistan in acquiring their rightful inheritance. Using qualitative research design, nine women and five lawyers were interviewed, and a thematic analysis of the collected data was done. The findings of this research reveal that patriarchal beliefs exist both within the institutional and domestic spheres. The study concludes that despite having inheritance and succession rights declared in the Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961 and the West Pakistan Muslim Personal Law, Shariat Act 1962 and legal jurisdictions of both laws being practiced in the courts, women are not getting their inheritance rights as directed by Islam. This study therefore recommends creating awareness among people and strengthening the legal system to promote women's inheritance.
Implications of Liberal Feminism for Pakistani Society
This research aims to understand liberal feminism, its outcomes and implications. Scholars have emphasized that liberal feminism revolves around the prevalent inequality regarding those women who are marginalized and dejected. Such disparity is causing havoc in society and sexual abuse is the outcome and result of these discrepancies. Pakistani society has received a strong impact of such inequality yet some paradoxical situations exist. On one hand, women consider that they are being rejected and not treated equally whereas other groups of researchers reject this notion. Despite this oscillating situation, liberal feminism appears to hold a very significant socio-political impact on Pakistani society.
Voicelessness of Pakistani Women: A Postcolonial Analysis of Bina Shah’s The Wedding of Sundri
Women are frequently portrayed as victims of religious, cultural, and institutional violence in Pakistani literature in English. Women are marginalized and most find themselves silenced and deprived of the ability to protest against their suppression. There are countless cases of women being victimized within the sanctity of their homes and ravished by their male relatives. This study focuses on the issues of women in the context of “The Wedding of Sundri” by Bina Shah taken from the book Neither Night nor Day, edited by Rakshinda Jalil. The protagonist in this story is a helpless, meek, individuated, voiceless minor girl. This study charts the course of voicelessness, suppression, and subalternity through a plethora of social and cultural norms and male chauvinism. The theoretical framework integrates the theory of subalternity by Gramsci and Spivak to show the women as silenced and voiceless figures.