Literacies across Generations: Women’s Religious and Secular Identities in Siraiki Villages

Abstract

This article explores the intergenerational changes taking place in the lives of Siraiki-speaking women in Pakistan, in terms of their access to and uses of literacy. The first section draws a profile of the village community to acquaint the reader with various aspects of the rural life that interplay with the literacy repertoire of the community. After building a profile of the material culture and social structure of the community, followed by a brief description of the special days and occasions in the villages, the article examines women’s lives in the village and their experiences of various literacies. Focusing primarily on the variables of class and generation, this section throws light on women’s lives and literacies to show how inextricably these are intertwined. Some ideological issues relating to women’s space are also discussed, especially how access to secular literacies and electronic media impacts upon the changing identities of younger women.