Early Challenges to Girls' Education in Pakistan

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Questions and Answers

Considering the socio-political milieu described, which of the following best elucidates the mufti's strategic deployment of the term 'blasphemy' in his initial confrontation?

A sincere theological condemnation rooted in a rigorous interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence concerning female education.
A performative invocation of religious dogma intended to exert immediate social pressure and circumvent protracted rational discourse. (correct)
An accurate reflection of mainstream Islamic scholarly consensus regarding the impermissibility of co-educational institutions for adolescent females.
A nuanced engagement with evolving interpretations of Islamic texts in response to modernization and societal shifts.

Given the Pashtun cultural context and the father's pragmatic compromise regarding separate school gates, what latent implication can be most reasonably inferred about the long-term efficacy of such conciliatory gestures in mitigating entrenched patriarchal resistance to female education?

The father's strategic capitulation demonstrates a masterful understanding of Pashtun social dynamics, ensuring the complete and irreversible neutralization of patriarchal opposition.
Such compromises invariably foster enduring goodwill and erode deeply ingrained patriarchal norms through gradual societal evolution.
Pashtun 'nang' (honour) culture ensures that compromises, once reached, are perpetually honored, thereby guaranteeing the sustained progress of female education.
Conciliatory measures, while offering temporary respite, may inadvertently reinforce the underlying patriarchal structures by conceding ground on principles of gender parity. (correct)

Analyzing the mufti's claim to represent 'good Muslims,' and considering the clandestine attendance of his niece at the school, which critical socio-psychological phenomenon is most acutely exemplified?

The inherent hypocrisy endemic to all forms of religious authority and pronouncements.
A genuine schism within the Islamic community regarding the permissibility of female education, reflecting legitimate theological diversity.
Cognitive dissonance arising from adherence to public dogma while privately subverting it for personal benefit or familial exceptions. (correct)
Confirmation bias within religious communities leading to monolithic interpretations of faith.

In the context of the narrative, the elder's questioning of the father's piety ('I'd heard you were not a pious man') juxtaposed with the observation of Qurans in the home serves primarily to:

Introduce a secondary line of attack, shifting from the specific issue of the school to a broader, more personal challenge to the father's religious legitimacy. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Considering the narrator's description of the madrasa as 'an open-air mosque where boys and girls studied the Holy Quran together' and her positive experience there, how does this contrast with the mufti's pronouncements on female education and 'purdah'?

It directly contradicts the mufti's views, showcasing an alternative, more inclusive Islamic educational tradition that the mufti intentionally ignores or is ignorant of. (B) Signup and view all the answers

The narrator's statement, 'Generally, when a Pashtun man loses an argument, he never really forgets. Or forgives,' in the context of the mufti's apparent retreat, functions as a:

Sophisticated application of Pashtun cultural understanding to foreshadow potential future repercussions despite the immediate cessation of conflict. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Considering the mention of the maulana's 'illegal radio broadcast' and its influence on the mufti, what primary function does this detail serve in understanding the broader context of the threat to the school?

To contextualize the threat within a landscape of externally influenced, potentially politically motivated, religious extremism rather than solely localized community sentiment. (D) Signup and view all the answers

The father's compromise of separate gates for older girls can be interpreted through multiple lenses. Which of the following perspectives offers the most nuanced understanding of its significance beyond a mere practical solution?

A symbolic reinforcement of gender segregation norms, inadvertently legitimizing the patriarchal ideology underpinning the mufti's demands despite ensuring the school's continued functioning. (D) Signup and view all the answers

The narrator's childhood engagement with both secular schooling (Khushal School) and religious education (madrasa) presents a dichotomy. However, in the context of the unfolding threat, what deeper synthesis or conflict does this dual educational background reveal about her position?

It underscores a potential internal conflict between her personal, positive experiences within Islam and the restrictive interpretations being imposed by figures like the mufti and maulana. (C) Signup and view all the answers

If the narrative were to continue, and considering the narrator's concluding intuition about unforgiving Pashtun men, which of the following subsequent developments would be the MOST probable escalation of the threat against the school?

Subtle and insidious forms of sabotage, such as spreading malicious rumors, social ostracization, or economic pressure on the school and its supporters, reflecting a long-term strategy of attrition. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Mufti

An Islamic scholar who interprets and applies Islamic law.

Purdah

A practice of female seclusion in some Muslim communities.