Socio-Cultural and Patriarchal Barriers to Women’s Political Participation in Pashtun Society

Abstract

This study is a critical analysis of the socio-cultural and patriarchal restraints that exist that contort women's political empowerment in Pashtun society with special focus on District Peshawar, Pakistan. Constitutional provisions and stick to the moored political reservations have not significantly shaken patriarchy that still subjugates women systemically to lack of voice because of stifling cultural and religious reasons in perpetuating gender inequality. Based on a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews conducted with thirty educated women, the research has identified five inter-related obstacles: Denial of free choice, Educational exclusion, Male control over political institutions, Cultural and religious disadvantage (e.g. purdah) and an ever-present threat of violence. The result identifies that even women with high educational attainment and interest in politics are facing serious repression issues, indicating the failure of top-down policy measures. The study concludes that sustainable empowerment necessitates a multi-sectoral intervention which incorporates economic agency, educational expansion, political reform and cultural reinterpretation to unravel patriarchal structures that allow for women's full participation in public life.

Keywords: Women’s political participation, Patriarchy, Pashtun society, Socio-cultural barriers, Political empowerment, Gender inequality, Pakistan, Qualitative research, Violence against women, Educational deprivation