DENIAL OF WOMEN’S INHERITANCE RIGHTS IN PAKHTUN SOCIETY: A STUDY OF SOCIO-CULTURAL VALUES AND CUSTOMARY PRACTICES

Abstract

he study quantitatively examined the role of various socio-cultural values and customary practices that hinder women right of inheritance in Pakhtun society in general and District Charsadda in particular. Universe of the study was consisting upon three union councils i.e. Shaikho, Nisatta and Dargai of District Charsadda. A sample size of 120 respondents was randomly selected from the study universe and interview schedule was used as a tool of data collection. The data was analyzed at uni-variate level with the help of frequency and percentage distributions. To ascertain relationship between variables Chi-Square test was applied at bi-variate level of analysis. The study concluded a significant association (P<0.05) of the denial of female right of inheritance with socio-cultural values, unawareness among women, strict adherence towards prevailing customary practices, equal observance by all castes members and upward vertical mobility in the society. However, female demands for inheritance lead towards conflict, stoppage of family support in emergency situations due to demanding right of inheritance and preservation of this cultural identity were nonsignificantly associated (P=>0.05) with the denial of female right of inheritance