DISCOURSE, KNOWLEDGE AND (HETERO)PATRIARCHY: A CASE STUDY OF THE HONOUR KILLING OF QANDEEL BALOCH

Abstract

This study employs a Feminist Epistemic Discourse analysis of the Facebook comments posted by social media users in Pakistan in response to the honour killing of a social media celebrity, Qandeel Baloch. The study focuses on misogynist and sexist knowledge and practices of knowledge dissemination, where information is condensed and interpersonally charged through (de)legitimation strategies which embody hegemonised heteropatriarchal ideologies and values. To represent and synthesise people’s misogynist and sexist knowledge, and to justify the honour killing of Baloch, the social media users make use of selective knowledge constructed from the combinations of various popular discourses, supported by the references to selected religious scripture. This study is a part of a more detailed study on Gendered Epistemic Discourse Analysis (GEDA) which aims to focus on the relationship between discourse, knowledge and heteropatriarchy. Such studies will provide deeper insights into socio-cultural contexts where honour killing is practiced, and facilitate further development of feminist approaches to discourse, knowledge and socio-cultural context.