B. The Patriarchal Practice Reflected through the Characters
Pakistan, which is a Moslem country, has a strong patriarchal and Islamic culture. Thus, women in Pakistan are regulated by the culture and religion; they
have to obey the rules that exist in that country. Pakistan as a patriarchal country give less of freedom to women who live inside the country, women have to serve
and obey their husband. In the other hand, women in Pakistan do not have option than obey the patriarchal rule because they do not want to be alienated by society.
Patriarchal practices in the play are shown by the experiences of the characters. The patriarchal practices in the play are divided on two aspects, the
first aspect is the position of women and men and the second aspect is the role of women in the family.
1. Unequal position
The position of women and men captured through the experiences of the characters. Women and men members in the Pakistan family have the different
position. Women have their position as a wife and mother; home is defined as the domestic area for women. On the other hand, men have the domination position
outside the house as a breadwinner. Thus, Pakistan parents assume that sons in the family have to get better education than daughters because they will be have a big
responsibility in the future. Chaudhry and Rahman states on the journal “The
Impact of Gender Inequality in Education on Rural Poverty in Pakistan: An Empirical Analysi
s”,
Men and women are conceptually divided into two separate worlds. The household resources are allocated in the favor of sons due to their
productive role. Male members of the family are given better education and are equipped with skills to compete for resources in public arena,
while female members are imparted domestic skills to be good mothers and wives. They are given limited opportunities to create choices for
themselves in order to change the realities of their lives 2009:174-175.
In this paradigm, clearly shows that the position of women and men are unequal; female members are assumed as a household manager only, while men members
have to equipped with great education and skills to compete in public area. Son on the Pakistan family usually get the best in many kind of things.
Started from education aspects, as it is stated in play that Sahid as the first son has the higher education, his parents try to do the best for him. They sold their house
in order to get him in an elite college while his sisters do not get the same education as he gets 1992:275. This condition shows women discrimination in
educational aspect; Pakistani parents are more concerned with the education of their sons than his daughters because they thought that girls would take care of
domestic work only. It clearly shows the unequal position of men and women in the family.
The next point is about responsibilities, the eldest son in the family have a big domination among the family especially after the father dies, he will be
achieve the father-position. Laura Nations wrote about the responsibilities of the eldest son, entitled “Eldest Son’s Responsibility”,
It is the eldest sons responsibility to care for his parents as they age. If he is asked to do anything or get anything for them, it is his responsibility to
do it and to not ask questions. He must always be respectful and obedient to his elders. When his father dies, the eldest son inherits his house even if
his fathers wife is still living. He must support and care for his fathers
wife with respect http:www.ehow.co.ukinfo_8553423_eldest-sons-
responsibility-islam.html. The quotation above related to the Sahid’s position in the play, Sahid’s command
have to be obeyed by the family members and he has the important role to make any decision in the family as well. Thus, everyone in the family have to give
respect and shows submissive attitude towards him. Nazo the eldest daughter on the play respect and support him in any other situation, she also warns her
younger sisters to respects him as well. It is stated on the play, NAZO. To BINIDA and ROONA Would you both just stop it. Show
some respect for your eldest brother. He is in your fat her’s place now
Sharif, 1992:275. Nazo’s is such an obedient sister, she obeys the patriarchal rule that her family
teach her. She warns her sisters to keep respect and polite towards Sahid even though they are on the tension situation.
Another patriarchal practice of unequal position among women and men is also reflected through the character Ali Buksh, the family servant. He gives
comment towards Bindia’s smoking habit, as stated on the play, ALI BUKSH.
It’s not good Begum Bindia - not good, in Pakistan - it is not good for a woman to smoke you are Muslim woman - not good
– Muslim country woman smoking is not good. You lose your health and
wealth Summarizes these lines in Urdu Sharif, 1992:266.
In other words, he tries to say that Pakistani women that have smoking habit will get negative image from the society. His words about Bindia clearly show that her
habit considered as a taboo and smoking is a men-only activity. The writer found that Ali Buksh has the mindset of common Pakistani; he still thinks that smoking
is an activity of men while women are not allowed to smoke. His paradigm is
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