RESHAPING NORMS: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF WOMEN’S CHALLENGES TO CULTURAL SCRIPTS ON EMPOWERMENT, MARRIAGE AND FEMININE AGENCY

Abstract

The article "Reshaping Norms: A Qualitative Exploration of Women’s Challenges to Cultural Scripts on Empowerment, Marriage, and Feminine Agency" investigates how women confront and redefine traditional cultural expectations related to empowerment, marriage, and their roles in society. Through in-depth interviews the study uncovers the strategies women employ to navigate and challenge these entrenched norms. The findings highlight the complex interplay between societal pressures and individual agency, offering insights into the evolving dynamics of gender roles and the pursuit of empowerment within various cultural contexts. Using semi-structured interviews with 8 women recruited from Islamabad, Wah Cantt, Hassanabdal, Haripur, Mianwali, Attock and Rawalpindi. For the present study qualitative approach was used. For this, participants (N=8) were selected through purposive sampling. Using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019), codes, sub themes and major themes, were extracted from the transcripts. Six major themes were reported i.e. personal empowerment and agency, marriage and feminine agency, how families influence this, psychological challenges, struggles in society, navigating non normative societal norms, and how women deal with all of these. The result found that deep-rooted gender norms often limit women's freedom, decision-making, and movement. Women entrepreneurs face additional hurdles, such as unfair treatment and societal expectations, affecting both their personal lives and businesses. Despite these obstacles, some people are beginning to question and move away from restrictive practices, with education and job opportunities playing key roles in this shift. However, women in leadership positions still encounter biases and subtle discrimination at work, highlighting ongoing challenges. Overall, the study emphasizes the complex relationship between societal expectations and personal choices, pointing to the need for significant changes to achieve gender equality and empower women in different cultural settings. Current study has implications for policy makers and provides a strong base for future studies.