Cultural Representation of Women in Traditional Language in South Punjab

Author(s) : Mirza Zeeshan Ahmad Baig, Muhammad Yasir Ali

Abstract:

Status of women in South Punjab requires in-depth cultural study especially while describing the traditional role of women in South Punjab. This study focuses on Proverbs to understand the traditional status of women.Proverbs are the traditional mirrors that display the picture of traditional identities and characters. Proverbs also act as depositories of social knowledge and present social epistemology in particular social contexts. South Punjab’s Saraiki character and identity is shared by the inhabitants of Urdu and Punjabi speaking communities. So, describing the cultural representation of Women in South Punjab requires a combined study of Saraiki, Urdu and Punjabi languages. The traditional tone of proverbial knowledge presents multiple characteristics of the status of women in society in South Punjab. By going through the proverbs this study not only questions the reductionist representation of women in journalistic and academic accounts but also suggest the preservation of the positive and powerful aspects of status of women in the social legislation in Pakistan.