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Abstract

This study examines the portrayal of women in Pashto songs, with a specific focus on how it reflects and reinforces the gender roles within Pashtun society. Recognising the cultural importance of Pashto music, the research explores how lyrical content contributes to the construction of women's identities through a feminist cultural lens. Employing a qualitative content analysis, specifically thematic analysis, the study analyses a purposively selected sample of Pashto songs known for perpetuating gender-based stereotypes. The findings of the study show that women are often portrayed as passive, submissive, and dependent figures, with their roles mostly confined to the home. In many songs, women are often celebrated primarily for their beauty, while their individuality, decision-making abilities, and intellectual strengths are often overlooked. This narrow focus reduces women to decorative symbols rather than recognising them as full participants in society. Such portrayals continue to reinforce traditional gender roles and support patriarchal thinking. As a result, these representations become a barrier to promoting gender equality and limit the possibility of more balanced and respectful portrayals of women in cultural expression. The study contributes to the broader dialogue on gender, media, and cultural reform, emphasising the need for more empowering and multidimensional portrayals of women in Pashto songs.