Socio-Cultural and Economic Consequences of Forced Marriages A Case Study of District Swabi Tehsil Razzar

Abstract

The institution of marriage was one of the universal social institutions developed to manage and regulate the existence of people. Forced marriage is a type of marriage in which a couple is married without their consent or against their will. Conventional marriage is the established societal pattern through which two or more individuals form a family, whereas forced marriage is a sort of marriage in which a couple is married against their choice.. The purpose of this study is to analyze the socio-cultural as well as economic effects that forced marriages have on the Pashtun culture. Tehsil Razar, which is located in the Swabi area, served as the study's primary location. In order to collect information, we used techniques of simple random sampling on 120 female respondents from the entire population of tehsil Razar. This was done for the aim of data collecting. The literature provided a comprehensive questionnaire that was adapted for use, and it was analysed descriptively using Statistical Software for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The current study concluded that in Pashtun culture, forced marriage has become the norm in terms of both the customs and traditions surrounding marriage. The vast majority of the young women are considered "other property," despite their ages ranging from under 18 to over 18. The custom of being married at a young age is deeply ingrained in Pashtun culture since it is believed to bring dignity to the family. Despite the fact that it is perceived to be a financial strain on households. One of the primary reasons for forced marriages in Pashtun society is the lack of education and the ignorance of the parents, both of which contribute to domestic abuse and deprive individuals of their rights as well as their physical and mental wellbeing.