The Status of Women and Marginalized Social Classes: Pakistan’s Pashtoon Society in Perspective

The prehistoric code of conduct, morality, conscience, and reprisal, known as 'Pukhtunwali,' struggled to regain its prominence during colonial rule. However, women and lower social classes were continually denied their fundamental rights. In the patriarchal Pashtun society, women's role remained limited, despite the notable contributions of several women in literature, work fields, and administrative functions. Unfortunately, women were often disregarded, and lower social classes had no rights, even though they constituted the basic unit of society and contributed their labour to society's progress. This paper aims to examine the status of women and the marginalized social classes in Pakistani society. The article explores how these groups were denied their rights and how the lack of recognition of their contributions negatively impacted society. The paper concludes by highlighting the need to address these inequalities to create a more equitable society that respects all its members.