Rahat shah

This study aims to explore the experiences of female‐breadwinning couples (FBCs) in Pakistan. Using the constructivist grounded theory approach, a sample of twenty participants (10 male and 10 females) was interviewed. The study findings show that FBCs experience social stigmatisation, social isolation and differential treatment. These couples are viewed as abnormal, different and violators of the normative gendered expectations. FBCs not only experience societal backlash, but their relationship dynamics are also negatively affected. To deal with societal responses and relationship problems, these couples adopt various normalisation strategies such as exercising discretion, relocation and performing gender identities. This study contributes to the literature by providing a culturally informed perspective on how deeply embedded gender norms shape interpersonal dynamics, normalisation strategies and overall experiences with non‐normative roles. The study also suggests for a more expli...

In this reflection paper, which stems from my PhD project and explores the gender arrangements and subjective experiences of female breadwinning couples (FBCs) in Pakistan, I delve into the distinctive challenges faced by a male researcher conducting gender research in a patriarchal cultural context. Drawing from both in-person and online fieldwork experiences, which began during the pre-pandemic period and extended through the pandemic into the post-pandemic era, this article unveils the layered intricacies posed by entrenched gender norms, societal expectations and the dynamics of a male researcher probing gendered issue. These challenges were further intensified in online mediums of interviewing, presenting obstacles from participant hesitations surrounding online privacy to inconsistent Internet connectivity and continuous disruptions. This paper also underscores the fluidity and multifaceted nature of the researcher's positionality, navigating interplays of gender, age, and cultural perceptions. My dual role, both an insider (by virtue of my cultural connection to the fieldwork area) and an outsider (owing to my affiliation with a Western academic institution), added layers of complexity to the fieldwork experiences. By juxtaposing in-person and online encounters, a rich tapestry unfolds, depicting both intersecting and unique challenges inherent to each mode of interviewing. Contributions of this reflection paper are multifold, which not only offers valuable insights for future researchers venturing into similar sociocultural contexts but also highlights the nuanced experiences of male-led gender research in predominantly patriarchal settings. The paper also contributes to the discourse on the fluidity of insider-outsider roles, reflexivity, and the methodological resilience and adaptability needed while conducting gender-focused fieldwork within specific cultural contexts.

This study aims to explore the experiences of female-breadwinning couples (FBCs) in Pakistan. Using the constructivist grounded theory approach, a sample of twenty participants (10 male and 10 females) was interviewed. The study findings show that FBCs experience social stigmatisation, social isolation and differential treatment. These couples are viewed as abnormal, different and violators of the normative gendered expectations. FBCs not only experience societal backlash, but their relationship dynamics are also negatively affected. To deal with societal responses and relationship problems, these couples adopt various normalisation strategies such as exercising discretion, relocation and performing gender identities. This study contributes to the literature by providing a culturally informed perspective on how deeply embedded gender norms shape interpersonal dynamics, normalisation strategies and overall experiences with non-normative roles. The study also suggests for a more explicit consideration of cultural and normative contexts to enrich the application of social psychological theories.

The stigmatization of stay-at-home fathers (SAHFs) has been widely studied, but little research has examined how these experiences vary between rural and urban areas. In this qualitative study, 20 SAHFs in Islamabad, Pakistan were recruited through purposive sampling and interviewed using interview guide. Results show that most men did not choose to become SAHFs, and were involuntarily thrust into the role due to unemployment, lack of appropriate employment opportunities, or disability. These men faced stigmatization, social isolation, and labeling from their friends, family, and community, resulting in their increasing stress and anxiety. Additionally, the study found that rural and urban residential backgrounds played a significant role in the experiences of SAHFs. Examining the concept of caring masculinities, the study discovered that cultural differences, adherence to gendered norms, and severe stigmatization made it difficult for SAHFs in a non-Western culture context to depart from traditional masculine roles and embrace caring masculinities.

PurposeThis article aims to highlight the stigmatization attached to the unemployment of educated youth in rural regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThe study explicates the subjective experiences of the youth as being unemployed and societal attitudes toward them through an in-depth qualitative approach. A total of 30 unemployed male individuals were interviewed through an interview guide.FindingsThe study reveals that unemployed individuals are stigmatized and discriminately treated. They experience the difference in social support from their family and friends during unemployment, which is a discouraging aspect. This finding is in contrast to the existing literature on the subject in which family and friends are described as a major source of social support. As the study is conducted in the rural context, it is observed that local factors coupled with the joint family system have intensified negative attitudes toward the unemployed youth....

Purpose – This article aims to highlight the stigmatization attached to the unemployment of educated youth
in rural regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach – The study explicates the subjective experiences of the youth as being
unemployed and societal attitudes toward them through an in-depth qualitative approach. A total of 30
unemployed male individuals were interviewed through an interview guide.
Findings – The study reveals that unemployed individuals are stigmatized and discriminately treated. They
experience the difference in social support from their family and friends during unemployment, which is a
discouraging aspect. This finding is in contrast to the existing literature on the subject in which family and
friends are described as a major source of social support. As the study is conducted in the rural context, it is
observed that local factors coupled with the joint family system have intensified negative attitudes toward the
unemployed youth. Subsequently, the negative societal treatment serves as a factor for psychological
challenges in their lives.
Originality/value – This article serves the need of exploring the experiences of unemployed individuals
precisely in the Pakistani context.

The current study aimed at exploring the attitude and risk perception of the students towards drug abuse. It was conducted through a quantitative survey technique in the educational institutions (Schools, Colleges and Universities) of four metropolitan cities of Pakistan. The sample size for the survey was 4997 students, using a multistage cluster sampling technique. The study found that although a majority (79%) of the students has a negative attitude towards the use of drugs, and consider its consumption as risky (poor health, lack of sleep, physical weakness, low academic performance, family conflicts and involvement in crimes), yet every fifth of the students is vulnerable to become a drug addict, as 21 percent of the respondent’s regard drug consumption as a risk-free activity. Conclusively, findings of the study, even though limited in the scope, are important to understand adolescent behaviour to ascertain the direction of future public policy on drug abuse in Pakistan.

A bs tr ac t This study is aimed at inquiring trends and patterns of illicit drug consumption in educational institutions of metropolitan cities of Pakistan. The quantitative research design was employed, where data was collected from 4997 students (3940 boys and 1057 girls) of public and privet schools, colleges and universities of Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar through self-administered questionnaires. The study sample was selected through multistage cluster sampling. The study found that overall (19.6%) students used any sort of drug at least once in lifetime whereas, (3.7%) were found to be daily consumers. Worrisomely, about half of the students (49.5%) had exposure to drugs in their teenage and further (7%) even under age 10. The ratio of female student’s drug exposure prior to age 10 was more startling and twice higher than male. Strikingly (36%) students take drugs on campus. Findings suggest the need for taking measures to prevent the prevalence of drug use in educ...