Citation

Sanchita B. World Affairs J. Int. Iss. 2020; 24(2): 142-158.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Kapur Surya Foundation)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Women in Pakistan live in a world structured by strict codes of family ties, religion and tribal customs. In recent years, pervasive repression and violence, often perpetrated with impunity, have literally pushed women back into their homes for fear of reprisals. There are many customary practices found throughout Pakistan that result in harmful outcomes for women. These include dowry deaths, honour killings, acid attacks, exchanging women in marriage with no consideration for their consent, forced marriages, forced religious conversions, etc. In addition, the mounting trend of Islamist extremism, which underpins terrorism in Pakistan, has added to the existing deluge of violence against women. Dismal poverty, ignorance and lack of education create fertile grounds for a fundamentalfurthering the perpetration of violence on the female population. Pakistan today is juggling between repressive customs and borrowed modernisation, causing irreparable damage to the social milieu, of which women are a fundamental component.

Language: en