The Social Acceptance of Male Authority: A Qualitative Study of Gender Norms Among Young Adults

Abstract

Direct coercion is not necessary to keep gender inequality alive; when family and public life are dominated by males, this is usually accepted as natural without any questioning. Norms of family honour, obedience and male guardianship in Pakistan can influence the perception and experience of young adults towards this family authority, however, few qualitative studies have explored this from the young adults' perspective. The purposes of this study were to (1) to examine young people's experiences and perceptions around male authority within family, education and public life. (2) To analyze the social, cultural, religious and institutional aspects in which male authority is legitimized and is accepted. (3) To grasp the ways in which young adults negotiate, accommodate or resist male authority and the changes they hope for in families and institutions. The research design employed was a qualitative type. The participants were selected using purposive sampling and 20 young adults aged 18 to 40 years (10 males and 10 females) were involved in the process of data collection. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Three themes emerged. The first kinds of daily male authority demonstrated this by exercising control over decisions, mobility, education and marriage, and enforcing the expectation that men be protectors and women be obedient. The second legitimation and acceptance of male authority demonstrated that male authority is legitimate because of honour and reputation, tradition and religion, early socialisation and the benefits of compliance. Results of the third, negotiation, accommodation, and expected change, indicated that participants primarily acted strategically, negotiated silently, employed education and income as leverage, and were hoping to see increased shared decision making. Male authority is created not simply by consensus, but by social expectations, family and institutional structures, and rewards for compliance. It should be worked on with families, educational institutions, young men, young women and should challenge assumptions on gender norms.