THE “UNIQUE” MISOGYNISTIC FACEBOOK RESPONSES OF PAKISTANI WOMEN TOWARDS THE DRAMA SERIAL KABHI MAI KABHI TUM

Abstract

This study investigates the phenomenon of internalized misogyny among Pakistani women as reflected in their English-language Facebook responses to the popular drama serial Kabhi Mai Kabhi Tum. Drawing on postfeminist theory, the research explores how women, in an effort to distance themselves from “man-hating” stereotypes, often position men above themselves and other women, thereby exhibiting a form of “unique” misogyny that devalues their own gender (San Agustin, 2021). Utilizing Halliday’s (1994) Transitivity Analysis, this study qualitatively analyzes 20 purposively selected Facebook comments to uncover the linguistic processes by which this misogynistic uniqueness is construed. The analysis focuses on the types of processes and circumstances employed in these responses. Findings suggest that Pakistani women frequently use language that not only elevates male characters but also undermines female characters and fellow women, reflecting broader patterns of internalized sexism and misogyny. This research contributes to understanding how postfeminist sensibilities perpetuate gendered hierarchies, highlighting the role of social media discourse in reinforcing internalized misogyny within contemporary Pakistani society.