UW Journal of Social Sciences

Deaf Culture as Locus of Religious Identity: Ethnographic Study of a Residential School for DEAF in Pakistan

Naureen Altaf aliasTaniya Shah — 2023-08-02

This research paper builds upon ethnographic fieldwork carried out as doctoral research at Pakistan’s largest public sector Special education premises for the Deaf at its capital Islamabad. Sign Languages at large defines the identity and representation for the Deaf communities round the globe, which makes them the largest minority of the world comprising 72 million people communicating through more than 300 sign languages. The relationship of Religion and language has gained repute in anthropological literature since the early developments in subject but with specific reference to signing communities or deaf people, the corpus of anthropology still remains scant. In this paper, the functional domain of religion within the deaf community is explored from emic perspective through 33 Deaf narratives. The findings are carried out as analysis of themes and sub themes thus emerged from the narratives which were recorded in sign language in the presence of an interpreter. Transcription of video recorded narratives in English was later revisited by the respondents to maximize their ownership in the written expression. The themes located were causes of one’s deafness, oralism (Policy to teach deaf to do lip reading and learn to speak instead of signing), Audism (A belief that deaf are inferior to hearing ones), religion, education, community, conflict, authority, access, and continuity and change. The thick description of how abstraction of religion shifts to signed symbols and how these notions interplay in daily life of deaf residents at a deaf-space intends to add on into the existing scholarly pool on Deaf Culture.

Health Problems Faced by Migrant Workers in Country of Destination

Faiz Rasool — 2023-08-02

The out-migration from under developed countries like Pakistan is considering the only hope for the individuals as the survival strategy which leads towards the well-being of the left behind families, but this migration come along various health hazardous which did not consider a policy or human rights issue. The study focused upon the 3-D works (dangerous, dirty and degrading) which leads towards hazardous working environment that is the violation of labor laws. In the destination countries e.g. UAE various supervisor and the employers forced migrants for such work to get more benefits. The data was extracted from the MPhil dissertation; the area of the study was Dera Ghazi Khan; the labor migrants were in-depth interviewed. The overall working conditions / environment was narrated by the respondents discussed in the article. Study highlighted various health issues faced by the migrants in the country of destination due to various legalities and non-serious attitude of suppliers / employers toward migrants’ health.

Self-compassion and Hardiness as Protective Factors for Mental Health: Exploring the Relationship and Demographic Differences

Samina Rashid — 2023-08-02

Pakistan is facing a severe economic crisis. This time period of economic decline has been challenging for everyone. This unforeseen and drastic change has caused transformation in the daily routines which consequently increased psychological burden for working population. Mental health is a basic human need that has been impacted due to over work. Current study’s purpose is to examine the association between hardiness, self-compassion and mental health among working adults across the time period of economic decline. The present study purpose is to explore the demographical differences among these variables as well. Data were collected from N=488 working adults (males=256, females=232) by using correlational research design. Self-Compassion Scale Short form, A Short Hardiness Scale and Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale were applied to find the study variables. Findings of the current study suggest self-compassion, hardiness and mental health are positively correlated with each other. T-test analysis results indicated that female working adults have good mental health and more self-compassion as compared to males. Married working adults are more self-compassionate and have better mental health. Individuals working in private organizations are hardier whereas individuals working in government organizations are self-compassionate and have better mental health. Results were mentioned. Limitations, suggestions and implications of the study were presented for future research.

Understanding the Social Stigma Surrounding Mental Health and Suicides in District Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Zubair Ahmed — 2023-08-02

The mechanism of society to adopt discredit, disgrace, condemn, and disown any individual for an undesirable status is termed as a stigma. Stigma significantly impacts individuals through various stages like social isolation, self-hatred, guilt, shame hopelessness, and burden on others, leading to suicidal thoughts and self-harm. In Ghizer, the prevailing stigma of suicide, mental illness, love affair, and failure contributes to the soaring suicide problem and is a barrier to suicide prevention. The present study is aimed to analyze the process of stigmatization, the nature of various social stigmas, their contribution toward suicide, and their hindrance in suicide prevention. A qualitative research approach was used with particular reference to case-based sample selection in convenient sampling; for selecting respondents (family members and community members), suicide cases were collected from police and hospital reports. An in-depth interview tool was administered for data collection. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis through themes extracted through literature, then described in narrative form. The study concluded that self-stigma combines loss in academic life, stigmatization of love affairs, and mental illness, which forces individuals into self-vulnerability and then suicide ideation. A culturally appropriate study is suggested to channel the social institution(s) for saving the lives of community members and strengthening their mental health.

Assessing Pakistan’s Responses towards Covid-19: A Policy Appraisal

Summar Iqbal Babar — 2023-08-02

Covid-19 is an unprecedented phenomenon in human history that has drastically altered the global socioeconomic and strategic landscape with far-reaching political effects. In absence of a security paradigm capable of accommodating this massive health catastrophe, developing states like Pakistan were affected badly as its socioeconomic fabric nearly withered away, and health infrastructure’s deficiencies were severely exposed. It dented its health sector, slashed the economy, worsened unemployment, caused supply chain bottlenecks, and hampered inter/intranational travel. The additional inflationary pressures triggered protracted recessions and exposed the state’s (lack of) preparedness and efficacy of institutional structures against non-traditional security (NTS) threats. This further augmented the dire need for the human-centric ideation of security which poses an urgency to equip Pakistan with the necessary tools and strategies for a wide range of future non-traditional threats. In absence of a pre-defined policy framework for dealing with non-traditional security threats, central and provincial governments along with other relevant stakeholders joined hands to make a holistic preventive effort that led to the adaptation of innovative practices such as smart lockdown and Ehsaas relief programme due to which Pakistan attained a high recovery rate of 99.13%. This article attempts to theorize the Covid-19 puzzle from a human security standpoint at the outset, evaluating Pakistan’s strategy, measures taken to combat it effectively, charts the future course of human security in Pakistan, and offers future actionable policy options.

EFFECT OF SELF-ESTEEM AND PERSONALITY TRAITS ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Dr. Hamid Ali Nadeem — 2023-08-02

The objective of this research was to study the effect of self-esteem and personality traits on academic achievement of university students. Self-esteem and personality traits are the most important aspects that affect the academic achievement of university students. For this reason, one hundred and fifty (150) university students (N=75 male, N=75 female )were selected randomly. Two questionnaires were used to collect the data. Rosenberg's self-esteem scale (1997) and John &Sirivastava’s big five inventory (BFI) scale (1999) were administered for this purpose. The standard of academic achievement was their average academic marks during their academic year. Data were analyzed through inferential statistics including Pearson correlation and multiple regression. Results showed that self-esteem, personality traits (introversion and openness to experience), and academic achievement are correlated. The result of this research revealed that self-esteem and personality factors are affecting the academic achievement of university students. It is recommended that the students at the postgraduate level must be guided in terms of personality development and boosting their self-esteem for their improved performance in their academics.

Academic Writing Problems Faced by ESL Learners in Higher Education Institutions

Amna Umar — 2023-08-02

English is used as a medium of instruction for educational purposes all over the world. All the subjects such as Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Technology are taught in English. However, students face difficulties to communicate effectively in that present study was conducted to find out the writing difficulties and the reasons for those difficulties. The sample consisted of the postgraduate students of University of Education Faisalabad campus. This study used quantitative method. The data were collected via questionnaire and were analysed by calculating frequency, mean, and standard deviation. The data analysis depicted grammar, preposition, vocabulary and sentence structures as main problems. Students felt that insufficient teaching methods are the cause of these problems. The students needed that teachers may deliver lectures in English language to improve their writing skills.

Primary School Social Studies Curriculum: Comparison of National Curriculum (NC) 2006 and Single National Curriculum (SNC) 2020

Rabia — 2023-08-02

From the perspective of globalization and technological advancements, the change in social studies curriculum is deemed important because it provides the necessary knowledge, skills, competencies, and attitude toward the modern world and makes students responsible national and global citizens. This study aims to compare and find the differences between National Curriculum (NC) 2006 and the new Single Nation Curriculum (SNC) 2020 for the grade five Social Studies textbook. Content Analysis was employed to compare both the curricula of social studies. For this purpose, a rubric was developed to analyze the key differences between NC 2006 and SNC 2020 in terms of content, student learning outcomes, suggested activities, information other than textbooks, website links, assessments, and projects. Major findings of the content analysis revealed that information about the struggle of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, and other prominent personalities in the creation of Pakistan was not found in the new curriculum. Website links are given at the end of each chapter to integrate the technology in the classroom for further information through different sites.

Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices Regarding their Feedback to Students at Elementary Level

Inamulhaq Hashmi — 2023-08-02

The study aimed to discover the feedback beliefs and practices teachers use to improve their students’ learning at elementary level in Tehsil and District Muzaffarabad, AJ&K, Pakistan. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used, and out of the population of 1012 teachers, the sample size comprised of 170 teachers, when precision level was ±7%, confidence level was 95% and P=0.5. Three dissimilar research tools were set for teachers for data collection. The questionnaire was used to study teachers’ feedback beliefs and oral and written feedback check lists were used to investigate teachers’ actual feedback practices. Statistical tests of Mean, Standard Deviation, t-Test Independent Sampling and One-Way ANOVA were used for data analysis. With varying degrees of agreement, majority of teachers held satisfactory beliefs regarding types, purposes and other related aspects of feedback. Contrarily, teachers’ actual oral and written feedback practices were quite unsatisfactory. Multitier educational management was recommended to establish systematic mechanisms of promoting and monitoring teachers’ pedagogical skills.

The attitudinal analysis of speeches delivered by Noam Chomsky and Shah Mahmood Qureshi at United Nation

Asia Shahmir — 2023-08-02

The paper investigates the attitudinal resources of speeches delivered at UNO during the Israel-Palestine Conflict. The study aims to investigate the use of interpersonal functions in speeches and how language resources are used to organise affect, judgment, and appreciation. In these circumstances, the language used by politicians and public figures played a significant role in highlighting the issue and influencing the audience. In total, two speeches were taken that were delivered by Noam Chomsky and Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the United Nations in 2014 and 2021, respectively. The qualitative method was used in this study, and the appraisal theory by Martin and White (2005) was applied to selected speeches. Findings show that appreciation and affect are mostly used by both speakers, and the least used resource was judgment, as the main aim of speeches was to highlight the ongoing incident. This shows that various resources are used by speakers to convey attitudes and negotiate relationships.

Muslim quest for space in india: Prospects and Challenges

Dr. Samina Yasmeen — 2023-08-02

For centuries before the British occupation of the subcontinent, the Muslims were the rulers of the land. Being dislodged from the rule and finding themselves as a minority, subjected both to British wrath and Hindu highhandedness, the Muslims found themselves in troubled waters. "There was a strain in Indian Muslim attitudes that gave the communal division a peculiar political importance and objective. From its earliest days, Islam has been a conquering and proselytizing faith. Its tradition in India was one of conquest and empire. The tides and currents of invasion and warfare had flowed to and fro, and great Hindu kingdoms had risen in the wake of periodic Muslim retreats, till the time of the Marhatta Empire. But for hundreds of years, no Hindu Raj had loaded it over Muslims either in India or in the great basins of the Indus and the Ganges.