SEARCH ARTICLE

23 Pages : 227-235

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-II).23      10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-II).23      Published : Jun 2022

Investigating Marginalization, Loss, Trauma and Resilience of Third World Women in Joshi's Henna The Artist

    The current research elegantly examines the majority of the time,enveloping the reader in a dreamscape of currencies, parrots, and exquisite meals. Joshi's narrating technique is captivating and the time passes quickly in the globe she has created. Nevertheless, her prose occasionally devolves into elaborate cramps and there are omissions and inconsistencies in her portrayal of the class structure in 1950s India, especially regarding ladies. Reading this straight historical fiction is a mistake; writing about class in a reliable or full of thought thinking will compose more about brutality and injustice. The current class and religious character issues in India are a section of the goal the state is in disorder today. Nevertheless, the study of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, where a blameless Black Lives Matter strike is taking place, has the same effect.

    Marginalization, Self-Identity, Cultural Identity, Trauma and Resilience of Third World Women.
    (1) Muhammad Ali
    Lecturer in English, Govt. Graduate College, Chowk Azam Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Muhammad Ahmad
    Lecturer in English, KAIMS International Law College Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Ramsha Zabta
    Head of English Department, KAIMS International Institute Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.

34 Pages : 338-347

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-II).34      10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-II).34      Published : Jun 2022

Posthumanism and Dystopian Biotechnologies: A Subtext of Ideological Maneuvering and Construction of Imploded Identities in Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go

    Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go (Never) exposes the oppressive role of ideology in imploding human identity through societal training, education, and the social roles of clones in the human world. Cloning is another marvel of biotechnology which has given birth to many optimistic as well as pessimistic narratives. The post human narrative is central to dystopia as it tends to put forward the regressive use of biotechnology that has the potential to disrupt the essential human identity and implement a sort of reduction-ism which manifest gratification and conformity. The desire to indoctrinate conformity indicates the late capitalistic tactics of commodification which results in an identity implosion. The paper asserts that ideological maneuvering and construction of imploded identities are exhibited through dystopian bio-technologies in the agency of post humanism, which represent com-modified identity politics. The post human, in this context, serves as the Other of stratified human identity.

    Clones, Commodification, Dystopian Biotechnologies, Implosion, Identity, Ideological Maneuvering, Other, Social Stratification.
    (1) Muhammad Mahmood Ahmad Shaheen
    Assistant Professor, Department of English, Government Sadiq Egerton Graduate College, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
    (2) Sohail Ahmad Saeed
    Assistant Professor, Department of English Literature, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
    (3) Ahmad Naeem
    Lecturer, Department of English Language and Literature, Gomal University, D.I.Khan, KP, Pakistan

50 Pages : 520-531

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-II).50      10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-II).50      Published : Jun 2022

Representation of Diasporic Identity in Nadeem Aslam's Maps For Lost Lovers and Kamila Shamsie's Home Fire

    he current research analyzes Nadeem Aslam’s Maps for Lost Lovers and Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire in the light of the concept of ambivalence, hybridity, and mimicry, and the way these texts establish a connection with trans-culturalism, terrorism, and Islamophobia. If Shamsie’s novel Home Fire highlights the issue of fundamentalism and its effect on the distorted image of Muslim immigrants, similarly, Aslam's counsels cultural
    hybridity among diversity and heterogeneity for lasting peace and prosperity in diasporic societies. The present study not only explores the feelings of alienation, ambivalence and interdependency of trans-culturalism but also
    sheds impartial light on the clash of cultures and the subsequent issues, such as subjugation, exploitation, victimization, and injustice meted out to the Muslim Community across the globe on foreign soil. The researchers have adapted qualitative and descriptive methods while relying on the thorough reading of the selected British-Asian novels as well as the related critical reviews.

    Diaspora Identity, Nadeem Aslam, Map for Lost Lovers, Kamila Shamsie, Home Fire, Novels
    (1) Muhammad Saqib
    Lecturer, Department of English, University of Buner, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Mustanir Ahmad
    Associate Professor, Department of English, Hazara University, Mansehra, KP, Pakistan.
    (3) Laraib Rahat
    Lecturer, English Department, Hazara University, Mansehra, KP, Pakistan.

38 Pages : 420-426

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).38      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).38      Published : Jun 2023

Transgender Rights Law in Pakistan: Mental Health Perspective

    The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 is an exclusive statutory law  dealing with the rights of transgender persons in Pakistan, the greatest strength of which is the right given to transgender persons to be recognized based on their self-perceived gender identity. However, in its recent judgement, the Federal Shariat Court struck down some of the key sections of this act by declaring them unIslamic. Gender is a social construct and is different from the biological sex. Gender identity, which is the innermost feeling of a person, cannot be changed. Moreover, transgender identity is not a mental disorder and is different from gender dysphoria. This paper discusses the transgender law in Pakistan in detail and the insights from the field of mental health to understand the transgender phenomenon and to handle transgenders' rights in Pakistan by bridging the gaps between the understandings of relevant stakeholders.

    Dysphoria, Identity, Transgender, Mental
    (1) Ali Ajmal
    LLM, University Law College, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Faiza Rasool
    Research Scholar, Institute of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

55 Pages : 629-634

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).55      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).55      Published : Jun 2023

Cultural Assimilation Leading to Third Space Identity: A Postcolonial Analysis of The Reluctant Fundamentalist

    The present paper analyzes the novel ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ (2007) from the postcolonial perspective in terms of Cultural Assimilation and Third Space Identity. Postcolonial theory features cultural hybridity and conflictive and conflated identities with a specific focus on theorists like Frantz Fanon’s ‘The Wretched of the Earth’ (1961), Edward Said’s, ‘Orientalism’ (1978) and Homi K. Bhabha’s 8‘Location of Culture’(1994). In the postcolonial context, cultural assimilation refers to cultural domination where the dominant culture seeks to erase indigenous culture and identity, whereas the Third Space Identity is the in-between space where cultural identities are hybridized. In ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ Pakistani expatriate, Changes is filled to the brim with the issue of an identity crisis. After 9/11 he questions his American Dream when he experiences the prejudice of Americans against Muslims. The paper will explore the theme of identity consciousness and crisis that leads to hybridization in the selected text by applying postcolonial theory. The focus of the study will be on Cultural assimilation and Third Space identity and will examine ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ the in pre and post-9/11 literary and socio-political milieu.

    Cultural Assimilation, Third Space Identity, Postcolonial, 9/11
    (1) Muhammad Iqbal
    M.Phil. Scholar, Department of English, Northern University, Nowshera, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Umair Ahmed Khan
    Lecturer, Department of English, College of Tourism & Hotel Management, Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (3) Shozab Ali Raza Abbasi
    Lecturer, Department of English, The University of Layyah, Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan.

02 Pages : 14-25

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-III).02      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-III).02      Published : Sep 2023

Hybridity and the Quest for Self-Identity: A Critical Analysis of Nadia Hashimi's "Sparks Like Stars" ( 2021)

    This study addresses the depiction of cultural hybridity and its ramifications on self-identity within Nadia Hashimi's "Sparks Like Stars" (2021), focusing on the protagonist's challenges and opportunities in navigating multiple cultural identities. The research problem centers on understanding the complex interplay between cultural hybridity and individual identity formation in a postcolonial context. Significantly, This approach adds to questions on how literary autobiographical narratives manage cultural hybridity in contemporary society. Employing Peter Morey's theoretical framework on cultural representation, the study aims to dissect the nuanced portrayal of the protagonist's journey towards self-identity, amidst the backdrop of inherited and acquired cultural influences. The novel's intricate exploration of cultural hybridity's impact on identity and the protagonist's struggle and growth as a postcolonial identity symbol.The study concludes by affirming the essential role of cultural hybridity in shaping complex individual identities, thereby enriching the discourse on postcolonial studies and multicultural literature.

    Cultural Hybridity, Self-Identity, Nadia Hashimi, "Sparks Like Stars", Peter Morey, Postcolonial Discourse
    (1) Samina Yasmin
    PhD Scholar, Department of English Language and Literature, The University of Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Mumtaz Ahmad
    Associate Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, The University of Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

16 Pages : 185-198

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-I).16      10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-I).16      Published : Mar 2024

Navigating Identity Negotiation and Cultural Adaptation in 'American Fever': A Critical Discourse Study

    The current study aims to analyze the discursive construction and representation of the processes of cultural adaptation and identity negotiation among Pakistani students in America in Dur e Aziz Amna's novel American Fever (2022). The study utilizes Homi K. Bhabha’s concepts of hybridity and mimicry (1994) to unveil students' strategies during their stay in America. Fairclough’s three-dimensional model (1992) was also employed to examine linguistic choices underpinning power and resisting strategies used by the protagonist to establish her position in society. The findings indicate that Pakistani students adapt to American norms, contrasting their native culture. Power dynamics play a significant role in identity negotiation, as Islamophobia and the Pakistani identity of the students affect their power position in American society. The author has used evocative language, metaphors, intertextual references, and code-switching to render the complexities of cultural adaptation and manifest her resistance to prevailing ideologies, including Islamophobia and gender norms.

    Cultural Adaptation, Power Dynamics, Diaspora, Identity Negotiation
    (1) Abdullah Yousaf
    MPhil Scholar, Department of Humanities, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Umara Shaheen
    Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

11 Pages : 100-112

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-III).11      10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-III).11      Published : Sep 2024

English Linguistics in the Nexus of Economic Growth and Cultural Evolution

    This article investigates the profound role of English linguistics in shaping economic growth as well as cultural evolution in a world that is highly globalized. With the language ascending toward its status as a global lingua franca, it has greatly influenced international trade, labor mobility, and digital communication, thereby enhancing international economic integration. The economic benefits of knowing English include more competitive information technology and business process outsourcing industries in countries with higher proficiency levels, such as India and the Philippines. Also, there is the cultural dimension of advancing globalization that questions the internationalization of English, linguistic imperialism, and cultural homogenization. On the other hand, while several scholars have contended that the spread of English erodes linguistic diversity, others point out that English is also adaptive: local cultures combine English with native languages to create hybrid forms, including the renowned "Hinglish" and "Singlish."

    English Linguistics, Migration, Economic Growth, Cultural Evolution, Globalization, Linguistic Imperialism, Identity Formation, Human Capital Development, International Relations
    (1) Sadaf -
    MPhil Scholar, Department of English, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Muhammad Zeeshan Naseer
    Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Government MAO Graduate College, Lahore, Pakistan.
    (3) Ahmad Sheraz
    M.Phil Scholar, School of International Relations, Minhaj University Lahore, Punjab Pakistan.

14 Pages : 135-144

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).14      10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).14      Published : Dec 2024

The Role of Islam in Shaping Pakistan's Political Identity and Governance

    This study examines the influence of Islam in shaping Pakistan’s political identity and governance, analyzing the ways Islamic principles and values have been integrated into the nation’s constitutional and institutional frameworks. Since its inception, Pakistan has sought to balance Islamic ideology with modern statecraft, creating a unique model of governance that intertwines religious ideals with political structures. This paper investigates the historical foundations of Islam's role in Pakistan’s political development, exploring how Islamic concepts have influenced legal, social, and policy domains. By studying key constitutional amendments, political movements, and policy shifts, this research sheds light on the complex relationship between religion and state governance in Pakistan, highlighting both the achievements and challenges of incorporating Islamic ideals into contemporary political systems.

    Islam, Pakistan, Political Identity, Governance, Constitutional Framework, Islamic Ideology, Statecraft
    (1) Sara Gurchani
    Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (2) Tazeem Imran
    Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (3) Uzma Malik
    Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, Pakistan.

23 Pages : 253-265

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).23      10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).23      Published : Dec 2024

Psychosocial and Cultural Challenges of Social Media Influencers in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study

    Social media influence is a rapidly developing market in which influencers face unique challenges linked to their cultural context. The development of digital platforms in Pakistan has enabled influencers to endorse products and advocate for them. This study investigated the experiences and challenges of social media influencers in Pakistan. Using a qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with N= 8 Instagram influencers who each have over 10,000 followers. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed to analyze the collected data. Five superordinate themes emerged, including identity shaping, concerns, growth and resilience, challenges, and coping strategies. The findings indicate that while influencers experience a sense of self-identity construction and financial security, women express greater concern regarding appearance and prospects than their male counterparts do. The findings of this study highlight the need for increased awareness and support for social media influencers, particularly in culturally conservative countries such as Pakistan.

    Social Media Influencers, Pakistan, Cultural Challenges, Identity, Coping Mechanisms, Qualitative Research
    (1) Aqsa Nasarullah
    Alumni, Institute of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Farah Latif Naz
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Bhauddin Zakariya University. Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Iram Gul Gillani
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Bhauddin Zakariya University. Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.