Peers’ Influence and the Social Construction of Gender: A Sociological Analysis of Stereotyping and Role Development in the Pakhtun Society of Pakistan

Abstract

Peer groups largely influence the social construction of gender and gender role stereotyping. This paper aims to investigate the role and influence of peers in the development of gender and gender role stereotypes. The study was qualitative, with data collected from three universities in Malakand Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. The University of Swat, University of Malakand, and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sharingal, were purposefully selected for data collection. A sample of 24 respondents was selected, with 8 participants from each university interviewed to collect relevant information. The collected information was then thematically analyzed and discussed. The study findings reveal that gender stereotypes and gender roles are socially constructed and influenced by different socio-cultural structures, relational networks, and patterns of interaction, including family, peers, and education. The study’s findings show that, in the company of peers, individuals learn to recognize their gender and attempt to fulfill their assigned role accordingly. The study recommends that companies and associations with gender-balanced leadership, peer groups, gender mainstreaming, and an impartial media role can help mitigate the development of gender stereotyping and its influence on gender role formation.