Deconstructing Patriarchy: Linguistic sexism and Gender Dynamic in Punjabi Proverbs

Abstract

The most useful instrument for intercultural interactions is language. Proverbs are among the stylistic strategies in poetry and speech that are used to convey the outlook of a specific cultural group. The present study investigates the ways in which Punjabi proverbs discuss women and reinforce conventional gender norms. The study employs Bakhtinian theory (1981) to pose four primary inquiries about the representation of women, cultural associations, and the impact of power relations and patriarchy. The study intends to define women’s position, clarify cultural connotations, and demonstrate how proverbs maintain unequal power hierarchies. The researcher has employed two techniques to address the redefinition. Books and articles are used to aid in our comprehension of the proverbs’ larger cultural context in Punjab. Secondly, the researcher discussed directly to speakers of Punjabi, particularly those who are elderly to find out what they think of these proverbs. The research gathered proverbs from a dictionary of Punjabi proverbs. According to the research, males are typically portrayed as powerful and responsible, while women are frequently presented as weak and reliant. Only mothers are given respect. This study advances our knowledge of the ways in which language and culture shape our perceptions of men and women in society.