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Title REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN PASHTO AND ENGLISH SONGS: A FEMINIST STYLISTIC ANALYSIS

Author(s) Nimra Tariq

Abstract Title: Representation of Women in Pashto and English Songs: A Feminist Stylistic Analysis The genre of songs serves as a means of pleasure and reflects ideologies, metanarratives, and norms that are socially and, at times, ethnically accepted. This qualitative, descriptive study examines how women are represented in English and Pashto songs. Thirty songs from 2020 to 2023 — fifteen in each language, including male and female artists — were analyzed using a purposive sampling technique. The analysis was conducted at three levels: lexical, syntactic, and discourse, employing Mills’ (1995) feminist stylistics model and Nussbaum’s (1995) objectification theory. At the lexical level, the study identified frequent nouns, verbs and, adjectives that objectify or idealize women. The syntactic level revealed patterns of male-dominated agency and the passive positioning of women, while the discourse level highlighted recurring themes of subservience, beauty, and objectification. Additionally, both Pashto and English songs objectify women in culturally distinct ways such as English songs often represent females through their body parts, while Pashto songs emphasize the physical beauty of women. By analyzing the lyrics of both language songs, the findings depict that woman is regarded as silent and fragile and valued primarily for their appearance, reinforcing societal expectations of submissiveness. In a nutshell, it is concluded that both Pashtun and American society represent women through the perception of male members, either negatively or otherwise. The study accentuates the need for a more balanced and respectful portrayal of women in songs to promote an inclusive and equitable society. The study recommends that further research be conducted in other languages and music genres like folklore, hip hop and rock to gain a broader understanding of gender representation.

Type Thesis/Dissertation

Faculty Languages

Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2025-01-10

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Contributor(s) Dr. Muntazar Mehdi

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