Exploring the Community Perceptions of late Marriage in District Swabi: A Qualitative Study of Socio-Cultural and Economic Factors

Abstract

In Pakistan, marriage has traditionally occurred at an early age and is deeply embedded in cultural, religious, and familial norms. However, the latest social changes have brought about an apparent rise in the late marriage involving especially in semi-rural areas like Swabi. This change has created a social concern among women particularly because of the stigma that exists to date, gender expectations and family issues. The objective of the study is to examine the socio-cultural, and economic forces that cause a late in marriage in District Swabi as well as to investigate the interaction between modernization and traditional norms and its effects on the marriage decision. A qualitative research design was adopted and the tools used to collect data were in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with unmarried men and women of marriageable age. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants and include social-economic and educational backgrounds. The thematic analysis of data was done in a deductive inductive approach based on the Modernization Theory. The results indicate that delayed marriage in Swabi is a complex issue which is determined by various issues which are interrelated such as; cultural pressures in terms of dowry and cost of marriage, authority of parents, gender inequality, economic instabilities, career and educational interests, exposure to media and social value changes. Although modernization has promoted individual growth and economic self-sufficiency, especially in the case of women, there are still conventional norms that govern the time of getting married and in most cases restrain and curtail individual freedom. The late of marriage in District Swabi is not just a personal decision, but a socially organized phenomenon, which is determined by the presence of both modern ambitions and traditional restrictions. The policy interventions should be geared towards reducing the price of marriage, increasing gender equality, making the marriage process easier and increasing awareness among the community so that they too can be able to make marriage decisions on time and at free will.