Negotiating Cultural Perspectives Of Friendship: Discourses Of Happiness In Collectivist Societies

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to explore the experiences of happiness and friendship among diverse social groups in Pakistan. Data for the research was gathered through life history interviews conducted with men, and women selected using a purposive sampling technique. Phenomenological interviews were employed for primary data collection, which was subsequently analyzed through discourse analysis. The study is theoretically guided by Smith's concepts of ruling relations and bifurcation of consciousness. The findings reveal that individuals have limited time for personal interests, leisure, and social interactions due to family and societal responsibilities. Both men and women reported significant changes in their social [1]identities after marriage and the birth of children. Women tend to devote more time to child-rearing and managing household chores, while men primarily focus on generating economic resources to meet marital and family obligations. Consequently, both genders experience reduced opportunities for socializing with friends compared to their unmarried lives. The study also found that divorce, separation, or the loss of a spouse often increases responsibilities, particularly in generating economic resources. Women, in many cases, face social restrictions imposed by power structures that limit their interactions with friends. At the same time, men often experience diminished social acceptance due to changes in their social identity. Overall, the narratives highlight that experiences of friendship, happiness, and social interactions are highly gendered and context-dependent in Pakistani society.