Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Perpetuation of Gender Discrimination in Pakistani Society: Results from
a Qualitative Study conducted in three provinces of Pakistan
Version: 
1 
Date: 
25 Apr 2022
Reviewer's report:
BMWH-D-22-00080R1
Perpetuation of Gender Discrimination in Pakistani Society: Results from a
Qualitative Study conducted in three provinces of Pakistan
Tazeen Saeed Ali; Shahnaz Shahid Ali; Sanober Nadeem; Zahid Memon; Sajid
Soofi; Falak Madhani; Yasmin Karim; Shah Mohammad; Zulfiqar Bhutta
BMC Women's Health
Reviewer's comments 
This is an interesting study. it adds to the evidence base around the tools used to
perpetuate gender discrimination in Pakistan a developing nation in South Asia.
The study describe s the tools used 
in 
granular details 
, and as such lays the
ground work for future 
work around changing attitudes in favour of enhanced
gender equality in the context of traditional , religious society 
Several issues need to be resolved
1. The summary and the abstract effectively repeat the material and one of them
can be eliminated 
2. Literature search and background information can be consolidated as one.
3. The literature review needs more critical analysis of the studies included . For
example 
4. Pg 4 line 23 - 
make 
specific not just generalized statements e.g. Ref 2 -
Negative Attitude to women working outside home reported by 84% 
of the male
participant 
and 52% of female participants while equal status for women 
is
favoured by 80% of male sample and only by 48% by female . It highlights a
number of interesting unconscious biases. Gender equality as theoretical concept
is acceptable to males, however not 
supported in real life- 
practices in terms of
employment and productive work are not encouraged 
. Women are consistent in
their attitude and practice. Nearly half the women oppose work outside the home
and the same number oppose gender equality . The education strategies must
include ways of overcoming such unconscious biases in men and education of
women is strongly needed 
5. Line 31 p 3- la literature
6. Line 48 p 4 - The study (ref 6) 
shows that 
gender based discrimination leads
to significant loss in world's economic productivity
7. Lin 15 p 5 - why is the issue of religion so significant. Please describe the
studies and critically analyse 
their findings
8. Line 34 p 5- what do you mean by unusual? What is usual?
9. Line 22 p 
7- Your ref 5- by SS Ajaz et al- Their reference number 8 - Book By
Ranjna 9sic) 
Kumari 
titled Kumari, Ranjna. (1986). Female Sexuality in
Hinduism, Delhi, Ispck COULD NOT BE found on the internet search. It is out
of print or does not exist. In either case the authors could not have read the book,
may be simply paraphrasing other questionable papers- Chinese whispers. 
10. Line 15 p 8- I was conducted…. what is this trying to say? 
11. P 14- According to a 2018 report published by Thompson Reuters, the level
of discrimination against women in Pakistan places the country among the top 4
countries in the world in relation to gender discrimination. The forms of
discrimination include job discrimination; an inability to earn a livelihood;
discriminatory land, property, or inheritance rights; a lack of access to education;
and a lack of access to adequate nutrition.
12. Line 24 p16- However, if she cannot be accompanied by a male, she must
protect herself by suppressing her natural state, a rather paradoxical situation.
13. Pl explain message is unclear 
14. Line 22 P 22 - and they require protection from men and men
15. What does it mean? 
16. Line 12 p 23 - there is an increase in educational levels of women associated
with enhanced access to information, increased autonomy, and the spread
of…….
17. Your participants included educated people yet they confirmed gender
discriminating attitudes bias in various areas . What does that say about the role
of education.
18. Your emphasis in literature review appears to impress the point that low
socio-economic status and Low education is a key factor associated with gender
discrimination. Yet your own focus groups comprising various levels of
education show that practices endorsing gender discrimination were present
19. You have not addressed this finding in discussion. How to understand that
and how to overcome barriers? 
20. See Ref- Amir JAMAL. 2016. Why He Won't Send His Daughter to School
—Barriers to Girls' Education in Northwest Pakistan: A Qualitative Delphi Study
of Pashtun Men. SAGE Open July-September 2016: 1 -
And 
Dr. Aamir Jamal.Engaging men for gender justice: Overcoming barriers to girls'
education in the Pashtun tribes of Pakistan. 2014, International Journal of Social
Welfare
21. Line 30-33 P 23 - 
displays patriarchal dominance and devaluation of women,
and their abilities. 
22. Line 44-48 P 23- Shows that education is not necessarily a sufficient
condition 
to change attitudes to son bias and gender discrimination - pl add ref 
23. Line 57-58 P 23- This adds to the evidence that the abuse of 
power is crucial
to the perpetration of gender-based discrimination, older women like MIL have
greater power and abuse it. This behaviour would cut across all socio-economic
classes
24. Line 15-18 P 24 - 
ref needed 
25. Quality of refences 
References are old and relevant ref not added. Available good quality literature
explores barriers to education of girls and how to respond to the barriers are not
included. References suggested.
Reference five is questionable . Its argument start with the key reference -
number three , the book by Ranjna (sic) Kumari. The book could not be found on
the internet. 
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
No
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
No
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
No
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes