Religious Influences on Marriage Expectations: Lived Experiences of Newly Married Women in Pakistan

Abstract

In Pakistan marriage is most valued occasion in both culturally and religious context. For newly married women, religious and societal norms shaped her marital duties, gender roles, and family responsibilities. As religion provides a moral and spiritual framework, along with cultural practices, these create a tension between tradition and personal aspirations. Understanding these lived experiences is vital for addressing marital adjustment and gender equity within culturally and religious bounded societies. The current study explores the lived experiences of newly married Muslim women in Mianwali, Pakistan, focusing on how religious beliefs influence their marital expectations. The semi-structured interviews were conducted using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach, having a purposive sample of twelve women (N=12) aged 22 to 28, married in last three years. Thematic analysis of the data shown six master themes: (i) Self-governance, reflecting negotiations for autonomy within religious and cultural boundaries; (ii) Harmony, focusing on marital unity and spiritual companionship; (iii) Faith Integration, demonstrating the centrality of Islamic guidance in defining roles and responsibilities; (iv) Normativity, emphasizing the influence of cultural and religious norms on marriage; (v) Stewardship, signifying the responsibility to maintain the sanctity of marriage and the family’s honor; and (vi) Social Labeling, emphasizing the impact of social perception on women’s marriage roles. The findings show that religion acts as a source of support and a arena within which individual and traditional aspirations negotiate. There are marital counseling, policy advocacy, and gap advocacy programs to promote balance religious obligations and equality among marital partners.