SILENCE, SHAME AND SURVEILLANCE: THE DISCURSIVE CONSTRUCTION OF PORNOGRAPHY IN PAKISTAN’S PUBLIC SPHERE”

Abstract

This study investigates the discursive construction of pornography in Pakistan’s public sphere through a corpus-based approach. Despite the widespread availability of online pornographic material, its discussion in mainstream Pakistani media remains heavily shaped by cultural taboos, moral panic, and religious rhetoric. By compiling and analysing a specialised corpus of media texts, online forums, and policy statements, this research explores how pornography is framed linguistically and ideologically. Using Key Word in Context (KWIC) analysis, collocate analysis, and concordance examination, the study identifies recurring themes such as morality, criminalisation, victimisation, and digital control. Findings are expected to reveal patterns of language that sustain censorship discourses, perpetuate stigma, and influence public perception. The research contributes to critical discourse studies by showing how language shapes attitudes towards sexuality in conservative societies, offering insights for media literacy, digital governance, and social awareness.