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Abstract
This research began with an assumption that Punjabi proverbs are ideologically patriarchal. Therefore, proverbs of different languages including Punjabi language were explored to find gender representation in them. However, on close analysis it was found that a no such study was conducted on Punjabi proverbs. Thus a sample of 588 Punjabi proverbs specifically dealing with/mention of gender was collected from Saadey Akhaan (Our Provrebs) (Shahbaz, 2004), a dictionary of proverbs. Proverbs were selected through purposive sampling with the help of NORMs. Subject specialists were consulted to transcribe and translate the finally short listed proverbs and to divide them into categories on the base of gender of the characters targeted in them. Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis is used as a theoretical framework. Both quantitative and qualitative methods have been used to analyze the data. The findings reveal that a large number of proverbs are targeted at female characters as compared to male characters. Most of the proverbs targeting females portray them in face threatening manner while those targeting males are mostly face saving. However, proverbs targeting mothers are mostly face saving. This study concludes that Punjabi proverbs hold fast to the principles of traditional society and strengthen patriarchal social set up. Punjabi proverbs not only reflect but also conserve, propagate and perpetuate gender bias. Punjabi proverbs are ideologically loaded rather than being accurate and precious sources of cultural depiction. Further research can be done on the actual use of Punjabi proverbs by native speakers to find the differences between the reported proverbs in written sources and those being actually used to perpetuate gender bias and patriarchy.
Keywords: proverbs, representation, identity, patriarchy, gender
Introduction
The value of proverbs increases manifold in a traditional society like the Punjabi society where folk wisdom is considered to be the highest form of wisdom. Daily speech of Punjabi people is never devoid of proverbs as markers of traditional wisdom. Being admittedly insightful, the previous studies about Punjabi language remain silent on the ideological possibilities of proverb-oriented oratory. These studies ignore the point that in traditional cultures, maxims are adopted by males to sustain themselves as creators and guardians of knowledge which females are believed to be incompetent of. This research intends to explore the subject of gender stereotypes and...