The Effects of Cultural and Religious Beliefs on Women’s Quality Of Life: A Case Study of Federally Administered Tribal Area, Kurram Agency

Abstract

The current study was formulated to probe cultural and religious belief systems that affect the female quality of life in the Feudally Administrated Tribal Area (FATA). The Data for the study was collected through an interview schedule from 279 sample respondents belonging to four villages of Kurram Agency. The statistical test, i.e., Chi-square, was used to find out the association between the dependent and independent variables. The results of religious and cultural beliefs show a significant association between females were not allowed to move outside the home and strictly observing seclusion (P=0.002), female participation in a job is considered a violation of Pakhtun ethics (P=0.000), females not dare to demand their share in the family inheritance (P=0.004), cultural values of Pashtun society consider female as a symbol of honor (P=0.000) with female quality of life. The study recommends the female quality of life in FATA can be improved through the merger of FATA into the mainstream of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, replacing FCR with constitutional rights, providing all the basic facilities, and discouraging all norms and practices developed on the basis of patriarchy, misinterpretation of religion and culture by using clergyman, NGOs and other government functionaries.