Women, masculinities and cultural change in conflict: Ethnographic insights from Pakistan's tribal areas

Abstract Gendered cultural change arising from conflict can be either productive or destructive. This study takes Pakistan's tribal areas as a case study to contribute to the discussion on gendered cultural change brought about by conflict in the post‐9/11 era. The conflict between the Taliban and the state of Pakistan has reconfigured the gendered cultural dynamics of the region. This paper offers an emic perspective on how conflict radically transforms women's cultural practices, reshapes masculinities and concurrently facilitates the emergence of neo‐tribalism. Ethnographic fieldwork, conducted between 2021 and 2024, examined both negative and positive impacts. The study finds that while the conflict imposed strict patriarchal norms, restricting women's participation in traditional cultural events—once vital sources of social networking and resistance against patriarchy—it also inadvertently changed the traditional masculine mindset regarding gender roles in tribal society.