Hearing Silent Voices and Listening to Perceptions and Experiences of Pukhtun Women on Higher Education: Opportunities for Women in Pakistan

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate factors relating to the low level of women’s participation in higher education in Khyber Pukhtunkhwah (KP), aparticularly conservative and traditionalist region of Pakistan, adjoining Afghanistan. The data analysis shows that women who succeed in entering higher education are in general from the elite/upper and the upper-middle classes. However, even these elite women face problems relating to particularly conservative understandings and practices that are culturally specific to Pukhtun culture rather than to the actual teachings of Islam, the religion professed by a majority of the people. In addition, attitudes towards women and the language of instruction have implications on women's access to education. More importantly, women of all economic classes have difficulty in making their own decisions and have to seek approval from their families, particularly their male relatives. The paper argues that men (and women) misinterpret teachings of religion, in other words they ‘culturalise’ Islam, instead of Islamising their culture. Drawing upon women's narratives, this study not only investigates factors affecting female participation in higher education in KP, but also gives voice to the traditionally voiceless Pakhtun women and puts on record stories not heard before.