Doing Gender in Pashtoon Culture: An Analysis of Real-Life Talk from the Perspective of Gender Differences in Language Use
Keywords:
Gender interaction, Language, Culture, Pashtoon cultureAbstract
This study aims to investigate gender interaction within Pashtoon culture, assessing the applicability of Western-derived language and gender constructs while identifying unique interactional strategies and linguistic markers defining gender roles, power dynamics, and identity within this cultural context. Employing qualitative methods, voice recordings from four families were analyzed using discourse analysis tools, guided by Tannen’s theory of gendered language use.
Results indicate the significant influence of both culture and religion on gender identity formation, with gender norms aligned with prevailing cultural and religious ideologies. The use of derogatory terms for women stepping outside prescribed boundaries underscores the enforcement of gender norms. Various factors, including religious beliefs, hierarchical relational structures inherent to collectivist cultures, and the perpetuation of traditional gender ideologies, contribute to the complexity of gendered language use in Pashtoon society. Notably, in rural areas, where religious adherence is pronounced, gender ideology is deeply embedded within religious practices.
This study contributes to existing literature on the intricate interplay among gender, language, and culture within Pashtoon society. However, further research in urban settings is recommended to explore how differing educational and sociocultural contexts may impact these dynamics.
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