Socio-Cultural Perception of Masculinity and its Impacts on Working Women

Abstract

This study explores the socio-cultural perception of Masculinity and its impact on working women, the study explains the native perspective of masculinity and stereotypes associated with masculinity, the impacts of this perception on working women and the problems faced by them. This study was conducted in village Saver Kalu Khan District Bagh, Azad Kashmir. Anthropological qualitative research methods such as purposive sampling, participant observation, case study, in-depth interviews were used to collect appropriate data and to understand the phenomenon. This research explored the masculinity as social mindset of people with the attachment of sociocultural narratives and connotations. Female is seen as less resilient as compare to the man. The native people consider women role confined at home; take care of household activities. The earnings for the household are considered the men job. By this division of labor and gendered differentiated role, working women faced many challenges. They are considered bad character women and only few occupations like teaching and nursing are seen suitable for women in respective area. Working women also face the problem of harassment during their job in offices and field by their male colleagues, heads of the department or institutions and also by the people with whom they meet during working outside. Because of living in a male dominant society, the male members of house feel· inferiority while doing the socially constructed female associated tasks such as cooking and cleaning. A man doing household chores is seen unethical. A working woman has to work both outside and inside the house. If a family allows a woman or she is needy for job so, she has to reach home before sunset. Society considers late night female workers as characterless. They also faced discrimination at workplace by unequal pay among men and women. The women have no property rights and are restricted for decision making even in important issues such as her marriage decision.