Pakhtun social organization [pakhtunwali] and gendered decision-making process in mate selection among pakhtuns of district malakand, KPK, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

The current study examined to explore gender based discrimination in mate selection among Pakhtuns. This research was conducted in Batkhela, [the capital of District Malakand], Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Data was collected from 200 respondents [both male and female] selected by stratified random sampling technique. A structured interview schedule was used as a tool of data collection. The results show that the process of decision-making in mate selection is highly gendered that is, caused by the practice of patriarchy, male dominance and rigidity of Pakhtun social organization. Such values tend to define the code of life that is mostly gender biased and women are particularly the victims of disparity in their mate selection process