Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research

EXPLORING LANGUAGE ATTITUDES THROUGH MATCHED GUISE TECHNIQUE: A CASE OF YOUNG KASHMIRIS OF AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR

2024-04-28T09:43:15+00:00

This study seeks to determine the language attitudes of young
bilinguals towards Kashmiri and Urdu, as well as their potential
implications. Using the matched-guise technique, 34 Kashmiri- and Urduspeaking students from the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)
were surveyed. Audio clips of each language were provided to assess the
participants' attitudes towards Kashmiri and Urdu. On a Likert scale,
participants evaluated a variety of personality traits of Kashmiri and Urdu
audio speakers. The mean response scores were calculated and compared
using SPSS and an independent t-test. The results indicate speakers have a
more negative opinion of Kashmiri than Urdu. It suggests that the Kashmiri
community has developed a negative attitude towards their mother tongue,
which may eventually result in a community-wide language shift.

PERCEPTION MAPPING OF COASTAL COMMUNITIES OF BALOCHISTAN ON SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUES IN RELATION TO CPEC

2024-04-28T10:56:53+00:00

This research paper presents a study on the perception mapping of
coastal communities in Baluchistan, converging on their socioeconomic
issues associated with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The
CPEC is a significant infrastructural project that aims to enhance
connectivity between China's western region and Pakistan's Gwadar port,
located in Baluchistan province. This connectivity will have certain impact
in the region; specially the adjoining areas of Gwadar Port and the roads/
highways leading to Gwadar. This study focuses on understanding the
perceptions of coastal communities towards the socioeconomic impact of
CPEC, as it has the potential to bring both positive and negative changes to
the region. The objective of this study is to understand the apprehensions
and perceptions of the coastal communities in Balochistan regarding
socioeconomic implications of the CPEC. To attain this objective, mixedmethods approach has been adopted; incorporating both qualitative and
quantitative data collection techniques. Semi-structured interviews, focus
group discussions, and surveys have been conducted to gather primary data
from the local residents, government officials, and other stakeholders. The
findings reveal a diverse range of perceptions among the coastal
communities regarding the socioeconomic issues related to CPEC. While
some participants expressed hope and confidence about the potential
economic benefits and improved infrastructure, while others raised concerns
about environmental degradation, displacement, and inequitable
distribution of resources. These findings have implications for policymakers,
project developers, and community stakeholders, highlighting the need for
inclusive development strategies, environmental safeguards, and transparent
governance mechanisms to address the concerns and leverage the
opportunities associated with CPEC. The analysis of this study also
identifies key factors influencing these perceptions, including educational
level, occupation, and proximity to CPEC-related projects.

GENDER REPRESENTATION IN HIGHER SECONDARY ENGLISH TEXTBOOKS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA AND FBISE

2024-04-28T09:56:01+00:00

Curriculum plays a foundational role in shaping opinions, beliefs, and
worldviews given its grounding in sociocultural ideologies. Therefore,
gender representation in school curricula has been the subject of research
across the world since the 1970s. Although a handful of studies have been
conducted in Pakistan, they have consistently reconfirmed deep-seated
gender bias in textbooks despite governmental pledge to gender equality in
education through administrative and financial investment over the past few
decades. While previous studies have focused on primary- and secondarylevel textbooks from individual provinces, the current study reviews most
recent higher-secondary English textbooks taught in schools and colleges
affiliated with 8 KP boards as well as FBISE hence their impact on a large
number of young men and women about to embark on professional journeys.
Broadly informed by the theory of Anti-Oppressive Education (Kumashiro,
2000), this qualitative research has used directed content analysis to explore
gender representation in the selected textbooks to conclude that despite
governmental commitment to empower women through education, these
Grade XI and XII textbooks launched in 2020 and 2021 respectively, fail to
eliminate gender inequality from the curriculum. The article concludes by
providing recommendations for systematic elimination of gender bias from
the curriculum.

HOME AND EXILE: A POST-COLONIAL ANALYSIS OF EURIPIDES’ PLAY MEDEA

2024-04-28T11:04:04+00:00

In the wake of the forced mass displacement of people due to the
outbreak of wars, the scintillating tale of the titular character in Euripides’
play, Medea has found new meanings in the post-modern world. This
research paper is an endeavor to study Medea along the trajectories of postcolonial discourse to suggest that she is a displaced outsider and a symbol
of post-colonial survival. This paper argues that Medea’s act of infanticide
is not a monstrous act as she was forced to refashion her identity as an
outsider and a foreigner. Therefore, by killing her own children, she strikes
a blow against the system and in this process, she reclaims her own dignity.
In fact, for Medea, it serves as a means of self-assertion. Bhabha’s (1994)
theory of Hybridity will furnish the main theoretical lens to critically
evaluate the text through close reading. Though critical literature has
critiqued Medea’s act of defiance, her act of infanticide has not been
analyzed in a post-colonial context. Her self-assertion allows her to
transcend spatial and temporal bounds. The study of Medea’s character will
help readers understand cultural heritage and the dominant colonial power
which Jason represents.

THE TROIKA OF COVID-19, MEDIA EXPOSURE, AND MENTAL HEALTH: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF WORRY AND INTOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY

2024-04-28T10:08:24+00:00

COVID-19 has swiftly surpassed all borders. It has become a
worldwide source of human infection, with all media companies exchanging
breaking news and providing the most recent data from all nations.
Consequently, people have suffered more significant discomfort, sadness,
and violence due to excessive media exposure and information intake. The
study intended to evaluate the function of exposure to the media and its
detrimental influence on students’ mentalmainlyticularly through the
mediation of worry and intolerance of ambiguity. Consequently, worry and
uncertainty significantly moderate students’ mental health through the
excessive intake of information (media exposure). A structural model based
on these compounds was proposed. The research indicated a substantial
relationship between the factors (media exposure, worry, intolerance,
depression, and aggression). The outcomes of the investigation revealed no
significant differences between men and women. This research is unique in
developing a theoretical model describing the significance of media
exposure, which will instill anxiety, and anxiety will lead to ambiguity,
negatively impacting students' mental health.