Mate Selection Mechanism Among Educated Working Women; A Study of Selected Public Sector Universities

Abstract

The present study was conducted to probe the mate selection mechanism among educated working females in Khyber Pakhtunkawa. It is based on the assumption made from filter theory that mate selection is a result of biological, psychological and social filters. Data for the study were collected through pre-tested questionnaire from 278 sampled working females from three public sector universities in Khyber Pakhtunkawa i.e. The University of Agriculture, University of Peshawar and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar. The results were drawn through uni-varate and bi-varate modes of analysis. Results report that the females selected for this study had age between 31-40 years mainly. Majority of them were unmarried, belonging to nuclear family with education up to M.S/M.Phil having father or husband as the head of the household. Results reveal a strong tendency of females towards westernization and materialistic values regarding mate selection. At the same time, they were connected with their value and belief system as well. The females generally preferred well dressed, broad shoulder, clean shaved, fair colored and physically attractive males with the same age and living in nuclear families. Similarly, they preferred to marry with the males having higher socio-economic status, big house, trendy cars, could afford jewelry and educated status. The sampled females from higher socio-economic status did not prefer to marry a male from lower status. Unlikely, the males preferred less educated females due to fear of conflict after marriage. On the other hand, females preferred males from their own ethnic group but at the same time married or intended to marry with males from outside their group instead of having fear of security and divorce. There was more preference to marry educated males because there are more chances of bright future, more understanding and good earning. This was further supported by mass media through providing information about ideal mate. At the same time, females were also found materialistic and independent in making decisions because of media. It also paved way for the emergence of new values regarding mate selection. Religion on other hand could not play a positive role in facilitating females in mate selection despite the fact that they, their parents and family members had absolute knowledge about the female rights given by Islam regarding mate selection; however, they did not follow religion mainly due to patriarchy and cultural influences. The result partially validates the filter theory as biological, psychological and social filters in Pukhtoon society are used by family instead of concerned individuals as in the West. The study recommends that an awareness campaign through mass media, religious leaders, civil society and political parties needs to be inculcated to inform both the educated and uneducated females and their parents about the nature and impact of religious misinterpretations, western values, materialistic outlook and idealism.