Analyzing Women's Property Rights in The Societies of Gilgit-Baltistan: A Feminist Marxist Perspective

Abstract

The various obstacles to women's property rights i.e. cultural barriers in Gilgit-Baltistan, where patriarchal customs still stop women from inheriting their property right, are examined in this study. Cultural norms (34.4%) are the most common factor limiting women's inheritance, according to the results of interviews that were subjected to analysis in thematic way. These are followed by gendered perceptions of property ownership (19.7%), relationship constraints (16.4%), unequal distribution (11.5%), resource scarcity (8.2%), voluntary renunciation (4.9%), and claims by compulsion (4.9%). The findings show that women mostly accept symbolic shares of property or give up their property right due to fear of social disgrace, economic dependency, and ingrained sort of male entitlement principle. Because of such strong patriarchal beliefs which they have, rights of women continue to be suppressed. By demonstrating how resource scarcity and traditional practices interact to grind down women's legal rights, this study adds literature on women's inheritance in Gilgit-Baltistan. In order to confront the deeply ingrained societal structures that uphold inequality and to encourage a fair access to property rights, the study emphasizes the critical need for focused gender-sensitive policy measures, and legal enforcement mechanisms along with awareness campaigns.