Tradition in Transition: Divorce and Cultural Change in Rural Pakistan

Abstract

This study investigates the transforming socio-cultural factors contributing to rising divorce rates in Dir Upper, Pakistan. Using an interpretivist approach, purposive sampling included 30 divorced individuals (15 men and 15 women) and key informants such as a family court judge, legal attorneys, members of the Local Disputes Resolution Council, and religious scholars. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic framework. Findings reveal that modernization through urbanization, education, media exposure, and cultural globalization has reshaped marital expectations and weakened traditional family structures. The shift from joint to nuclear households has eroded communal support systems, leaving couples to resolve conflicts independently, increasing vulnerability to divorce. Growing individualism, gender equality norms, and material aspirations have intensified intergenerational value conflicts and reduced tolerance for marital dissatisfaction. Divorce, once stigmatized, is now perceived as an acceptable solution, particularly among younger generations influenced by global cultural trends. These findings align with modernization theory and global research on family change, highlighting the interplay between structural shifts and cultural liberalization in transitional societies. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive interventions to address marital instability and strengthen support systems amid rapid social change.