RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POWER RELATED GENDER ROLE IDEOLOGY IN MARRIAGE AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF MARRIED COUPLES IN DISTRICT VEHARI

Abstract

This study unveils the traditional gender norms embedded in people’s ideology regarding marriage which advocates gender discrimination throughout married life of couples. Traditional Pakistani gender norms tie women to family by curbing their careers and ambitions, encumbering them with household chores and the responsibility to nurture, and classifying women as obedient, submissive, and dependent in supporting their spouse even at the cost of their own careers. The focus of this research is addressed by utilizing quantitative research method. A sample of 384 respondents was selected by using multistage convenient sampling technique and data was collected by designing a questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between independent variables i.e., traditional gender roles, mate selection criteria and dependent variable i.e., gender discrimination. The findings of the study reveal positive relationship between the variables, which endorse all the three hypotheses of this research. This research highlights that the power related gender ideology is affected by two instruments; first is enacting male dominance prior to marriage by mate selection criteria, and second is maintaining the male dominance during the marriage by traditional gender role norms for both spouses, which caused the gender discrimination among married couples.