The Burden of Honor: A Qualitative Inquiry into the Social Pressure Faced by Single Muslim Mothers in Coimbatore

Single motherhood within Muslim communities in India remains an underexplored sociological phenomenon particularly when examined through the intersecting lenses of gender, religion and social control. Dominant cultural narratives surrounding family honor, morality and female respectability often intensify the lived struggles of single Muslim mothers subjecting them to heightened surveillance and social regulation. This study explores the nature, forms and consequences of social pressure experienced by single Muslim mothers in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Employing a qualitative research design, in depth interviews were conducted with twenty single Muslim mothers selected through purposive sampling. The findings reveal that the notion of izzat (honor) operates as a powerful disciplinary mechanism, shaping women?s everyday lives, social interactions and self-perceptions. Participants reported stigma, moral judgment, economic vulnerability, emotional isolation and restricted mobility as recurring experiences. The study argues that social pressure is not merely interpersonal but structurally embedded within familial norms, community institutions and gendered religious interpretations. This research contributes to feminist sociology, social exclusion and minority studies by foregrounding the voices of single Muslim mothers highlighting the urgent need for socially inclusive policies and community level interventions