The Women - Annual Research Journal of Gender Studies

An Overview of Feminist Approaches to Understanding Patriarchy

Dr. Mukesh Kumar Khatwani — 2022-12-26

This paper summarises the findings of a doctoral study by Khatwani (2016), which explored the experiences and perception of professional women about their social status, autonomy and respectability. The secondary data, particularly taken from research papers, have been employed for this research. Historically, prevalence of women’s subordination to their men has been traced across the globe but in various forms and different levels of subservience. They were not merely subordinated but humiliated, exploited, discriminated, and controlled as commodity. Even in 21st century, women are not treated equally either they are living in highly developed societies or in developing theocratic/traditional societies. Most of sociologists, anthropologists and social researchers are agreed to the argument that a woman’s subservience is principally embedded in well-structured system of patriarchy. Therefore, the most of research studies on this subject have explored the association of patriarchy and women’s subordination. The term feminism used in 18th century for women’s movement for their equal position in society. The development of feminist theories and later on diversity within feminist thoughts regarding gender equality gave birth to different types of feminism. However, the patriarchy has been the central point of behind the subordination of women. Employing the critically qualitative approach, the paper attempts to critically review the different feminist approaches to understanding patriarchy, and how they have been helpful as theoretical framework in addressing hypothetical dimensions of patriarchy, which exhibits in various forms from public to private in almost all societies.

Awakening into Selfhood: Feminine Oppression, Self-Discovery, and Illusive Freedom in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

Imdad Ullah Khan — 2022-12-26

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of Kate Chopin's short story, "The Story of an Hour," from a feminist perspective. By examining the ideas and thoughts prevalent in the late 19th century, it seeks to understand how Chopin critiques oppressive social institutions and their impact on women's selfhood. Using close textual reading, the article explores how Chopin's use of characterization, imagery, and symbolism depicts Louise's inner conflict and emotional journey toward self-discovery and freedom. The motif of confinement and freedom is used to contrast Louise's experiences of being oppressed by societal norms and loveless marriage with her brief moment of liberation and freedom upon hearing of her husband's passing. The irony of the ending, in which Louise dies of shock upon seeing her husband alive, highlights the theme of how social structures can restrict women's lives. This analysis seeks to understand the significance of approaching literature from a feminist perspective and the various ways in which literary works can critique oppression and social imbalances, and the impact these have on an individual's freedom of choice and happiness. The study further examines how Chopin's characters' experiences of oppression and confinement create an internal conflict between social obligations and the desire for true freedom. Through an in-depth examination of Chopin's work, including characterization, diction, imagery, and symbols, this study aims to analyze the author's message regarding the consequences of oppressive social institutions on women's lives.

A Review on Postcolonial Analysis of Aurat March and the Dynamics of Feminism in Pakistan

Abdul Khaliq — 2022-12-26

Although women's activism has existed in Pakistan since its inception, the country witnessed a new type of activism in the shape of the "Aurat March" in 2019 and 2020 onwards. This study investigates the history, aspirations, and outcomes of Western feminism. Using discourse analysis, this study investigates women's activism in Pakistan, the 'Aurat March, and the public hostility met by organizers and supporters as a result of the event's strange chants and comical signs. Pakistan is more than just a Muslim country; it is also a Third World country with a brief postcolonial history and this inquiry delves into the intricate web of Islamic culture and feminism at work there. This article examines the 'Aurat March' movement in Western civilization for social, cultural, and religious transformation, as well as its relationship to feminism. Instead of focusing on minor issues, the study also emphasizes the need of women's rights advocates raising a rational and effective public voice with widespread support if we are to finally abolish social evils. Women's rights in the context of western feminism have been compared with limits on women's emancipation in the Islamic context, and a framework has been proposed to clarify this distinction.

Role of Female Political Leaders: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Benazir Bhutto and Hillary Clinton Speeches

Mahaam Khan — 2022-12-26

The research deals with the area of discourse in linguistics. It incorporates the use of discourse, i.e critical discourse, political discourse and Systematic-Functional linguistics model by Halliday to analyze the chosen content. The sample of this research is Benazir Bhutto’s speech at Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi on 27thDecember, 2007 and Hillary Clinton’s speech at Democratic National Convention at Philadelphia on 28th July, 2016. The research is qualitative in nature which provides a descriptive analysis of both speeches by applying the SFL model and use of rhetoric. The purpose was to critically analyze the underlying ideologies and implied meanings in the selected speeches of Benazir Bhutto and Hillary Clinton to observe their role in power. For analyzing the speeches, it was an essential element of the research to construct inferences by thorough reading and build authentic material supporting the topic statement. A socio-cognitive approach of CDA was considered liable to interpret the speeches critically in terms of discourse evaluation. Later on, an area of current study has been focused that is political discourse analysis which aims to portray that how it controls the mind of public and reform their opinions. The significance of this research was to compare two female leaders in separate communities; by analyzing the strategies consumed to exist in traditional communities with male chauvinism. The major findings resulted in portraying the strong use of language by Hillary Clinton and Benazir Bhutto according to their context of the environment. Both speakers were pro-public, conscious and nation oriented with strong ideological space in their mind. There was a minor limitation of language as in the translated version of Benazir’s speech. It resulted in bringing forth the outcomes of efficient language use that engages public densely and builds a power base for female leadership.

Cutting the Knots: Disassociation of Female Characters from Domestic Spheres in Henrik Ibsen’s Plays

Asma Khatoon — 2022-12-26

This article explores female characters' quest for a newly discovered world which they will redefine by their newly discovered realities in Henrik Ibsen’s plays. The essay explores how they undergo ordeals to gain self-knowledge so that the reader can understand the struggle of women in an oppressive patriarchal culture. Ibsen’s female characters are criticized for their haughtiness and their failure to realize their primary duty as wives and mothers. This research contends that in search for meaning, Ibsen’s female characters destroy the rigid moulds of society and try to emerge out of their traditional domesticated roles. This article further applies Freud’s concept of “un homely” to expose the seemingly safe havens of domestic world. Their attempts to search for the unadulterated truth of their existence are more than just reactions: they actually revolt against all the unnatural patriarchal patterns. They challenge these roles and, in their defiance, they impart new meanings to their lives. This article describes how this quest for certain principles of life functions in Ibsen's major plays through his dominant female characters and finds its ultimate expression in the renewed roles they acquire. In exploring purpose behind every action of these female characters, I have included Ibsen's three major works: A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, and Ghosts. A close textual analysis of the works locates the strength of Ibsen's female characters and their will power that empowers them to change patriarchal patterns.

An Analytical Study on Socio-Economic Conditions of Women Lived in Lasbela District of Balochistan

Hussain Islam — 2022-12-26

The study has chosen the topic about socio-economic conditions and historical background of women lived in Lasbela district of Balochistan, and the idea behind choosing the topic is to understand the lives of women of Baloch tribe. The objective is to observe the role of women in social and economic participation and assess their financial condition. The quantitative method has been selected and 200 women have been chosen as a sample of the study, in this regard, self-administered questionnaire was prepared for the collection of data; it is important to mention that the selection of women includes homemakers who are not in paid work and women who earn through various tasks that includes embroidery, embellish work, stitching and being paid in return of their products. The results and finding disclosed that women live in patriarchal cultures where male head the family and women are unable to participate in decision making. The socio-economic conditions and historical background of women are more prevalent in both rural and urban areas of Balochistan. Low socio-economic conditions and historical background of women is mainly due to low level of education, tribal social structure, religious trends, culture and participation in decision making. Further unveiled that lack of education among women and girls, lack of economic participation, and financially weak. It is recommended that government should facilitate women in educational opportunities, provide micro-small businesses as they can earn through home based work as to improve their financial conditions and enhance the status of women in the district.

Similar yet Distinct-Analogies between Tagore’s and Iqbal’s Feminism

Irfan Muhammad — 2022-12-26

This study explores the feminist philosophies of Rabindranath Tagore and Muhammad Iqbal, who were the poet philosophers of the subcontinent in the 19th and 20th centuries. Their acquaintance with western thought and civilization during their higher education led them to question patriarchal domination, male chauvinism, and women’s inferiority and despondency in Indian society. They both presented their versions of feminism; Iqbal stood for Islamic feminism with freedom of education. He was in favor of the cautious adaptation of liberalism with a priority on gender roles. Similarly, Tagore explicated the plight of women in great depth and was a torch bearer for giving women freedom over their bodies, education, professions and lives. However, his appraisal of social feminism is not straightforward since it occasionally emitted wafts of hidden patriarchy as he depicted women as well-educated and intelligent; yet the ideal ones were multi-taskers spending their lives in the trivialities of domestic lives. Therefore, this qualitative research with Hermeneutics approach contrasts the stances of feminism regarding the subcontinent’s two thought-provoking literary figures. Their feminist ideas are crucial from the historical perspective and should be developed further to strengthen contemporary feminist discourse in South Asia.

Women at Work: Labor Force Participation and Empowerment in KPK, Pakistan

Sadaf Mubeen — 2022-12-26

This essay's goal is to shed light on the variables that affect married women's decisions to enter the workforce in KPK, Pakistan. This empirical study consists in the PDHS for the years 2017–18 uses binary logistic regression (1973 sample size). The findings show that while women's age and place of residence have a positive but slight impact on empowerment, women's education, occupation, wealth index, and husband's education all have a positive and statistically significant impact. A socioeconomic policy can be created for a developing area like KPK, Pakistan. On the basis of this research, a development policy can be created to improve human resource development for a developing and traditional economy like Pakistan, with a particular focus on gender issues. Researchers, decision-makers, and social scientists can get benefit from the conclusions of this work since it will raise the bar for social welfare and equity.