Behind closed doors: Unveiling the causes of gender stereotypes against female university students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71085/joclsi.05.01.94Keywords:
Gender, Gender Stereotypes, Gender Discrimination, Patriarchy, CultureAbstract
The phenomenon of gender stereotypes exists in our society, which directly affects women. This research study aims to know the nature and causes of gender stereotypes at the university level. To understand the nature and causes of gender stereotypes, we conducted a qualitative study, and data was collected through in-depth interviews from female respondents at Hazara University, Mansehra. Data was collected through a simple random sampling technique, and data was analyzed thematically. We identified three themes: gender discrimination, patriarchy, and culture, which serve as root causes of stereotyping. The results show that gender discrimination is a barrier to female education. In such an environment, women are limited to household activities. Male-dominant societies push women to the margins in order to sustain masculinity and patriarchy within society. Additionally, cultural factors in Pathan society restrict women from attaining higher education, resulting in fewer opportunities for them to achieve academic success.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Fazal Rahman, Dr. Haji ur Rahman, Dr. Shakeel Ahmad (Author)
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