KAGAWA Erika

Positions, degrees

Research Associate; JSPS Research Fellowship

Research Keywords

South Asian Area Studies; Pakistan; Pardah; Muslim Women; Veiling

Email

kagawa_erika[at]aa.tufs.ac.jp

Describing Women’s Experiences of “Pardah” in Contemporary Pakistani Society

I have been conducting research on how pardah, a gender norm in South Asia, is interpreted and practiced by women living in contemporary Pakistan. Previous studies describe pardah as a widespread norm of female seclusion found mainly in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It is practiced either by separating men’s and women’s living spaces or by women covering their bodies with specific garments. Although pardah has often been criticized for negatively affecting women’s health, education, and employment, in reality there is considerable diversity in how it is understood and enacted. Focusing on both urban and rural areas of Punjab Province in Pakistan, my research examines differences in pardah practices across religious communities—including Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism—as well as generational shifts in these practices. Through this work, I aim to shed light on the complex and varied ways in which women navigate pardah in their everyday lives.