Final Year Project

Project Title

Understanding Young Women’s Coping Mechanisms and Resistance to the Rishta/Match-Making Culture in Karachi: A Qualitative Study

Description

In this paper, I explore the prevalent matchmaking/rishta culture in Karachi and how young women navigate and resist it while exercising agency. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of heterosexual women in the matchmaking culture, understand how women exercise agency within this context, and uncover coping mechanisms used by women to navigate the culture. Findings from the study revealed that participants employed various coping strategies such as praying, focusing on work, and engaging in activities like watching movies. However, the study also highlighted the limited agency women have in rejecting a rishta or determining whether suitors can visit their homes. The final decision lies with the parents, who determine the validity of a woman's reasons for rejecting a rishta.