ERCEPTIONS OF FEMINISM AMONG THE STUDENTS OF QUAID E AZAM UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD

Abstract

This study has focused upon two dominant perspectives of feminism within the parameters of the student’s perceptions. This new feminist activism involves the majority of students of Pakistan; hence, it is important to know their perspectives about it. This study has used qualitative research method along with snow balling technique. There were a total 15 respondents interviewed for the study, who were from the social sciences department of the Quaid e Azam university Islamabad, such as Sociology, Anthropology, International Relations, Political science, School of Law, Management Sciences, and Defense Strategic Studies, History, and Economics. Therefore, the most important objective of this study was to highlight their point of views of feminism and whether they would like to be associated with feminism or not. In Pakistan feminism has been overlapped with myths that make it negative and something taboo in the society. Feminism as an ideology of emancipation of all human beings irrespective of their sex, and equality between all sexes has become a troubled notion in contemporary times. There has been a great modification in activism as after the emergence of Aurat March and #Me too movement. It can be concluded that feminism has always been seen as the supporter of homosexuality, nudity and vulgarity. Feminists have always been accused of rebellious behavior, tarnishing the concept of women being mothers and caretakers. This research highlighted the discomforts of students of Quaid e Azam university Islamabad around the term feminism and why they hesitate to become part of the feminist movement. The research study concludes that how the formal emergence of Aurat march and #me too movement has strengthened the negative aspect of feminism which has now become more dominant in Pakistan.