Patriarchy and Juvenile Gender-Based Misconduct in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study of Masculinity and Socialization

Abstract

This research investigates the influence of entrenched patriarchal norms on juvenile sex offending in Pakistan, focusing on how masculinity is socially constructed and reinforced through media, peer dynamics and familial socialization. Employing a triangulated qualitative methodology, the study incorporates insights from three participant groups: adolescent boys, psychologists and juvenile justice professionals. The findings reveal that rigid gender socialization fosters toxic masculinity, male entitlement, emotional suppression and normalization of sexually harmful behavior. Adolescent peer groups reinforce a “complicit masculinity” culture that silences dissent and shields perpetrators, while digital media often devoid of regulatory oversight serves as a primary source of misinformation about gender roles and relationships. The absence of comprehensive sex and consent education leaves boys vulnerable to adopting hyper-masculine and misogynistic ideologies. By connecting lived experiences with broader theoretical frameworks such as Social Learning Theory and hegemonic masculinity, this study demonstrates how societal structures contribute to the justification and perpetuation of juvenile sexual violence. The study concludes by offering evidence-based recommendations for educational reform, gender-sensitive rehabilitation, community involvement and media regulation. It advocates for a structural reimagining of masculinity and the cultural narratives surrounding male behavior as a foundational step toward meaningful, long-term prevention of sexual violence.

Keywords: Patriarchy, Juvenile Sex Offending, Toxic Masculinity, Gender Socialization, Consent Education, Peer Influence, Pakistan