A Sociological Study of the Factors Effecting Crime against Women in Pakistan

Abstract

The paper is aimed to explore the sociological root causes of the crime against women in Pakistan. The study is based on research done with quantitative approach to data collection and analysis. The method of data collection was survey done with the help of a questionnaire. The data analysis identified following basic sociological root causes of the crime against women:

1) Patriarchy,

2) several socio-cultural practices,

3) unfavourable attitude of police,

4) customary of not reporting of crime to police,

5) insufficient laws,

6) lack of education among women and

their less participation in political forums. It is observed that patriarchal structure of society through its two main features of male domination over women and women’s exclusion from public sphere by segregating them in the private sphere of home makes the women vulnerable to become easy victims to crime. Several socio-cultural practices like child marriage, watta satta, wanni, walwar and swara are source to foster victimization and crime against them. Despite being faced with the crime committed against them, majority of the women avoid reporting the crime to law enforcing agencies due to fear of brining bad reputation to the family or facing exploitation in the hands of police. At the same time several laws were also considered to be insufficient to protect women in past for long. These laws were also considered having potential for victimization and crime against women in the country. It is recommended to improve the social structure and attitudes toward women in society through education and advocacy. The laws also need to be improved along with the trainings provided to law enforcing agencies for making them more gender sensitive while performing their duties.