Beyond Honour

"Misperceived, ill-informed and narrowly-researched documentaries, research studies and newspaper reports presented in the US and Europe have created an impression that honour related violence against women occurs only in Asian and African Muslim communities, mainly due to their backward and conservative cultural and religious beliefs. Such misinterpretations and ethnocentric portrayals of multi-faceted violence have invoked criticism from various communities across the globe." "The main focus of previous studies on the subject has been on the socio-cultural aspect of honour and its implications for female bodies and sexuality. This study is an attempt to look beyond the cultural notion of honour as the only motive behind gender based violence." "Focusing on honour related violence in the Muslim world, and especially in Pakistan, this study attempts to explain the origin and persistence of the honour code by applying Marx's historical materialist approach. It takes readers through the histories of religious, legal, social and political institutions from ancient times to the present day and its comparative historical approach identifies the economic basis of the origin and persistence of honour related violence in some societies, and its absence in others."--Jacket.