Department of Gender Studies

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Department of Gender Studies at UMT focuses on the subject of Gender Studies as an interdisciplinary field of intellectual inquiry which includes exploration of the diverse experiences of women in national as well as international context. The department is established with the purpose to nurture a new group of social scientists, social workers, policy makers and development professionals who will examine Gender issues in Pakistan from a scientific lens. The Department is currently offering MPhil in Gender Studies and BS in Gender Studies. These degrees are innovative because of interdisciplinary and holistic approach to the issue of gender. The programs are committed to multicultural curriculum that sustains and integrates diverse standpoints and offer students an opportunity to explore Gender from the perspective of intersectionality to build a meaningful understanding of the subject. If you would like to learn more about Gender Studies at UMT, please explore this website and feel free to join us at our upcoming events.

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Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
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    Women's right of inheritance: choices and challenges in punjab
    (Journal of Islamic Thought & Civilization, 2018) Iram Rubab; Usman Ahmed
    Women‟s right of inheritance is an indispensable right which assures their socioeconomic and political empowerment. Although the Shari„ah law and the constitution of Pakistan safeguard this right, its denial is pervasive in Punjab. This paper explores the possible choices for women and subsequent challenges they confront in independently exercising these choices. The chosen methodology is qualitative in nature. The ontological stance of interpretive school and epistemological stance of social constructionist school of thought have been followed. Through theoretical sampling technique, thirty women were recruited as sample from Mianwali, Rahim Yar Khan and Lahore. Data was collected through an in-depth interview guide and the results have been derived through thematic analysis. The findings of the study portray the contemporary trend among women in Punjab to surrender their right of inheritance in favor of the male agnatic heirs. Among the socio-cultural determinants influencing the choices of women, patriarchal set-up, misinterpretation of divine commands, lack of awareness, stringent legal procedures and lower educational levels are the most significant. The study recommends effective awareness about inheritance rights both through accessible legal procedures and with the promotion of female education so that females be able to make informed choices.
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    Usage of religious symbols in fiction by pakistani women writers
    (Journal of Islamic Thought & Civilization, 2018) Ambreen Salahuddin
    This paper is concerned with usage of religious symbols by seasoned women fiction writers of Pakistan. These writers have indulged in using significant symbols, metaphors and archetypes in their texts. Exploring the source of symbol is a meaningful study. In the current paper, it is seen how religion becomes a major source of symbols in literature. As far as religion is concerned, the usage of religious language is not seen in respect to its structure and function, rather it is understood by the context and pattern of text. It is also explored whether the traditional usage of these symbols is being retained by Pakistani women fiction writers or they have used symbols in newer meanings and connotations. Qualitative research methodology is applied in this current study. Thematic networks analysis is used and basic themes are extracted from text, which are in turn grouped under organizing theme, connected later with global theme.