THE RURAL SINDHI MEN:THEIR IDEAS OF MASCULINITY AND THE IDEOLOGY OF PATRIARCHY

Abstract

This comprises the thesis presentation of findings in relation to men’s views about the concept and idea of masculinity, its features and characteristics and the ideology of patriarchy prevailing in the rural setting of Dadu Sindh. This study also presents the respondents’ narratives that contain their interpretation and perspectives about the characteristics of the ideal and bad men in society. Their narratives are also analysed by bringing out the evidence of the ideology of patriarchy in the structures of the rural Sindhi family and community. The presentation and analyses of these views and narratives are important to establish their interconnectedness with the rural men’s views and responses to the issue of domestic violence. This study is designed qualitative in methodology; while employing phenomenological approach with (thirteen -13 adult men); age ranged from (18 to 65 years) old to find out the subjective and ‘lived experiences’ of men about masculinity and patriarchy in rural Sindh. Locale of this study consisted rural Sindh; one rural taluka (Mehar) (sub-unit of district Dadu) was selected on convenience of the researcher due to the limitations of time and resources. The masculine and hypermasculinity features and patriarchal mindset of men reproduce the societal depiction in detail; where males physical and socially consider themselves as a supernatural and powerful being and devaluing the physical and social existence of women in rural Sindh Pakistan to control over their life.