ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS OF SPINSTERS IN VILLAGE ACHINI PAYAN DISTRICT PESHAWAR

In Pakistani society, marriage is regarded as one of the crucial social institutions and in Pakhtun society, marital status is linked to family norms and expectations, social inclusion and women's role. If unmarried, women can face social, psychological, economic and familial challenges which affect their daily life and wellbeing. In the peri-urban Pakhtun communities, however, little empirical research has focused on the adjustment experience of never-married women. This study is an exploration of some of the adjustment issues faced by spinsters of Achini Payan in District Peshawar. The method used was a qualitative case-study method and purposive sampling technique was employed to select the respondents. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather the data, and the data were analyzed thematically to find patterns in the participants' experiences. The results show high levels of family pressure, community stigma and peghor (social criticism) and emotional and psychological distress experienced by unmarried women. Economic dependence and limited mobility, as well as heavy household duties, are other factors that make it difficult to adjust. However, participants adopted a range of coping mechanisms, such as practicing religion, remaining in a supportive family, getting education and working or being engaged in a productive activity if possible. This study finds that spinsterhood is not just a result of individual conditions or choices, but is also determined by broader cultural, familial and socioeconomic settings. An awareness of these structural influences is crucial to the development of interventions that can be supportive to single women's dignity, autonomy and social inclusion.