LANGUAGE USE BY THE WORKING WOMEN AND THEIR EMANCIPATION AT THE WORK PLACE IN KPK

Abstract

This study examines the language use by working women and its role in their emancipation within the workplace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Using a thematic analysis of interviews and focus group discussions with female employees across various sectors, the research explores how language serves as both a tool of empowerment and a medium of control in the workplace. The findings reveal that while working women in KPK navigate complex societal and cultural expectations, language plays a critical role in shaping their identities, asserting autonomy, and negotiating power dynamics. Themes of linguistic subordination, resistance, and solidarity emerge as women engage in workplace communication, balancing traditional gender roles with professional ambitions. The study highlights the dual function of language: as a mechanism for reinforcing gendered hierarchies and as a potential tool for challenging patriarchal norms and promoting workplace emancipation. It concludes by emphasizing the significance of linguistic practices in enhancing women's empowerment in the workplace and calls for organizational and societal changes to foster more inclusive, equitable work environments for women in KPK, Pakistan.