TEXTUAL PATRIARCHY: A CRITICAL STUDY OF MAJEED’S GIFT TO THE BRIDE

One of the key aspects of the paper is its interrogation of how patriarchal norms and religious ideologies intersect to censor and control women's behaviour and agency. Through a critical reading of "Tohfa-e-Dulhan," the paper seeks to unravel the ways in which women are depicted, restricted, and subjugated within the text, shedding light on the broader systems of oppression that operate within society. The analysis of "Tohfa-e-Dulhan" offers valuable insights into the intersection of patriarchal and religious hegemony within historical texts, particularly in the context of 19th-century India. By examining the socio-political and religious landscape of the time, the paper aims to uncover the underlying power dynamics and ideologies that shape the portrayal of women and their activities in the text. Furthermore, by contextualizing the text within its historical milieu, the paper provides a nuanced understanding of the socio-political forces at play during the 19th century in India. Overall, the paper offers a critical perspective on "Tohfa-e-Dulhan" and similar texts, highlighting the need for continued examination of the ways in which patriarchal and religious ideologies intersect to shape gender relations and perpetuate systems of oppression. Through this analysis, the paper contributes to ongoing conversations about gender, power, and representation in literature and society

Women's health-seeking behaviour in the context of sexual violence, sexual health rights, and the Muslim community. A case study of Hope Careline Counselling.

Master of Arts in Gender Studies. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2016.Through interdisciplinary research in gender, religion and health, located within a feminist paradigm approach, this research project aimed to critically explore how women’s religious beliefs influenced their health-seeking behaviour through the use of a counselling careline in the context of sexual violence, sexual health rights and the Muslim community. Using a qualitative research design, 3 women were interviewed as part of the data production process. This study focused on the health-seeking behaviour of women who experienced Gender Based Sexual Violence (GBSV) and who accessed a counselling careline. In-depth interviews were conducted comprising of a balance of open-ended and close-ended questions. The data was analysed using a multi-pronged approach called thematic network analysis. The findings indicated that religion influenced the health-seeking behaviour of the women participants who were influenced at two points, the reaching out stage as well as their prior health-seeking attempts. The following factors were found to have influenced their health-seeking behaviour: Defining sexual violence in their context, perceptions about the women’s connection to God, being silent about sexual matters, and the perceptions of sexual matters in Islam. Many misconceptions regarding the Muslim community and the GBSV exist and is nuanced and subtle. This research further aimed to contribute to a multi-level understanding of Gender Based Sexual Violence (GBSV) and sexual health rights within the context of the Muslim community. It is recommended that themes in this study be investigated further and that knowledge production and awareness be aspects that are focused on in Muslim communities thus leading to prevention rather than cure