Men’s Personal Consciousness about the Concepts of Gender, Gender Relations and Domestic Violence in Rural Sindh-Pakistan

Abstract

This research study consists of a presentation of discussion and findings about concepts, ideas of gender, gender relations, gender power, and domestic violence, as well as men's understanding of the concept of gender, differences between women and men, and their views about gender positions and relations within the family, community, and society. From a methodological point of view, this study is qualitative, and it has employed (Non-probability) purposive sampling, where N=11 males have been recruited from rural taluka Mehar, district Dadu, Sindh. Respondents’ ages range from 18 to 65 years old and both married and un-married were part of this study. This study adopted a phenomenological approach, where lived experiences of men about personal consciousness, concepts of gender, views about physical and biological differences between women and men, social constructions of gender, and social construction of reproductive roles are examined. Data were analyzed using software (NVIVO. 12). Narratives of respondents are given to authenticate the data. Men’s responses about women acknowledge that gender relations and gender power are unequal in rural culture, which has created the gap of gender inequality that influences domestic violence. This needs to be addressed through social psychoanalysis and needs to be highlighted at an earlier stage of its impacts on society in general and for most women.