Relationship Between Patriarchy And Customary Social Practices Affecting Women’s Life In Pakistan

Abstract

Explaining the nature and prevalence of patriarchal culture and eight anti women socio-cultural practices (i.e. Dowry, Watta Satta, Walwar, Honour Killing, Wanni, Swara, Marriage with the holy book of Quran, and Child marriage), this paper explores a relationship between people’s perceptions about patriarchy and anti women socio-cultural practices as sources of crime and violence against Pakistani women. The paper is based on primary data collected through survey conducted with a close ended questionnaire developed by the researcher. The collected data was statistically analyzed to test hypotheses. It argues that socio-cultural practices and the patriarchy are perceived as factors leading to crime and violence against Pakistani women. It is found that the respondents scoring higher on the scale for assessing perceptions regarding “patriarchy as a factor leading to crime against women” also score higher on the scale for assessing the “socio-cultural practices as factor leading to crime against women” in Pakistan. Therefore, it is inferred that there is a positive correlation between respondents’ perceptions regarding patriarchy and socio-cultural practices as factors leading to crime against women in the country. It means patriarchy is the basic system that fosters crime and violence against women through the tools of anti women socio-cultural practices in Pakistan.