UNSPOKEN BARRIERS: A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF HUSBANDS’ JUSTIFICATIONS FOR OPPOSING WOMEN’S POST-MARITAL EMPLOYMENT

Abstract

This qualitative research paper will examine through the local communities in some parts of the country such as Punjab the psychological and sociocultural reasons based given by the husbands to resist the employment of their wives and how wide or narrow does this resistance extend in regard to the marriage. Analyzing with great depth the 18 emotional and behavioral forces (F1-F18), the research reveals that this patriarchal control is not always the foundation of this resistance but is fuelled by very individual fears, cultural conventions and emotional weakness. A chi-square test was used to determine the level of significance of each of the factors in respect to opposition of husbands. Seven of them are mental overload (F2, p = 0.0003), emotional exhaustion (F5, p = 0.0059), discomfort within mixed-gender-based environment (F7, p = 0.0179), emotional rejection of changing roles (F8, p = 0.0400), insecurity (F9, p = 0.0378), fear of family neglect (F10, p = 0.0005), physical stress symptoms (F13, p = Such results reveal that some of the issues are not statistically significant, but still they are psychologically significant and must be resolved with an expression of empathy, dialog, and socio-educational assistance.

The research determines that the opposition to employing women may be a misleading emotional reaction and encourages formulating positive means like education, emotional discussions, counseling and mutual trust-building. This research recommends the need to move away confrontation to loving communication in marriages and proposes that both spouses need to rise and explore the emerging gender roles by respecting each other and revealing their knowledge. Conclusively, the results encourage the introduction of a model of gender coexistence where empathy, mutual accountability, and sensitive practice to the redefined roles in society guide the way.