Convergence of Private and Public Patriarchy: Challenges of Safe Spaces and Places for Women Claimants of Inheritance in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Feminist theorists maintain patriarchy as the root cause of women’s subordination. This study examines the convergence of private and public patriarchy in Punjab, Pakistan, with reference to challenges of safe spaces and places confronted by women claimants of inheritance. The study used qualitative methodologies to conduct forty semi-structured interviews of Muslim women inheritors from two cities in Punjab. Patriarchal theory guided the thematic data analysis of the study. The data showed that private patriarchy limits women's choices. The limited mobility, emotional blackmail from family, and control over citizenship documents cause women to surrender inheritance rights. Participants who overcame familial patriarchy and sought state support faced institutionalized patriarchy. These spaces were found to be patriarchal, both in a structural and infrastructural sense, making women often feel alienated. The study found that women claimants had few options despite legal protections. Pakistan's bureaucratic strongholds need safe spaces for women to exercise their fundamental rights, such as familial inheritance.