Legacy of Honor and Violence: An Analysis of Factors Responsible for Honor Killings in Afghanistan, Canada, India, and Pakistan as Discussed in Selected Documentaries on Real Cases

Abstract

The present study scrutinizes the cases of honor killings in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Canada through selected documentary films. The case focuses on the social, moral, and religious aspects that coerce some people to take the lives of their own family members in case they defy norms. The documentaries chosen as case studies provide the perspectives of both the victims and the victimizers regarding the concepts of honor, dishonor, and honor killings. People in certain societies reject progressive new thought as attempts to contaminate their perceived cultural purity. People from these communities who try to assimilate liberal ideas are often shunned, especially when the emancipation of women is concerned. Even the seemingly progressive males are very unforgiving about the female members of their families embracing the modern ways of life. The women who try to defy set traditions are branded as being rebellious and are punished to serve as a precedent for future rebellions by women and to save society from their alleged bad influence. In some patriarchal societies, women are seen as the preservers of the family’s honor, and their conduct often reflects the family’s culture, morality, and ethics. Any lapse on a woman’s part allegedly taints the family’s name, and punishment must be given to the erring party to restore the family’s honor. The case also studies the influence of society as a compelling factor in honor killings.

The Role of Honour in Tolerance to Intimate Partner Violence against Women in Sri Lanka

“…Guruge et al, 2016). Literature based in the Middle East, the Mediterranean and South America has found links between interpersonal violence and honour endorsement (Ceylan-Batur et al, 2021;Gengler et al, 2021), and the same has been found in other South Asian cultures (e.g., Couture-Carron, 2020; Singh & Bhandari, 2021), however, there has thus far been no research pertaining to the relationship between honour and IPVAW conducted in Sri Lanka. Young Sri Lankan men have an understanding that VAW should not be tolerated in society, yet they see themselves in instances of conflict when traditional patriarchal gender roles are deeply ingrained in their culture (Darj et al, 2017).…”

Bans on women's voting: An intersection of caste, gender, and class in Punjab, Pakistan

“…“Honor” of upper caste males rests in their capability to control women and supervise their activities within and beyond the four walls of the house. On the other hand, women require conforming to these patriarchal social norms to preserve themselves as well as caste “honor” (Singh and Bhandari, 2021). The participants of this study were dominantly from upper castes with a strong economic base in terms of big land holdings.…”

An exploratory qualitative analysis of rape myths in India

“…In several cultures, women are considered custodians of family honor (Singh & Bhandari, 2021). Since some cultural norms tie family honor to female chastity, men may feel the social pressure to protect women from the influence of other ‘bad women.’ Because of such faulty beliefs, many men and women would participate in criticizing and mocking an Indian woman who dons western wear.…”

“…In several cultures, women are considered custodians of family honor (Singh & Bhandari, 2021). Since some cultural norms tie family honor to female chastity, men may feel the social pressure to protect women from the influence of other 'bad women.'…”