Youth in Pakistan; a Clash Between Teens and Parents
By: Aamna Hafeez & Dane Bell
With 96% of the country as devoted conservative Muslims, Pakistan has always maintained a modest stature. However, as a new generation of teens step up to lead the nation, the ideals of western culture have worked their way into the lives of many Pakistani teens. These glimpses of Western culture have created a collision between traditional Pakistani culture and modern western culture.
Fashion
One instance of this is observed through fashion. Magazines often encourage the modern look, with the television providing westernly-directed role models for today's children. This encourages children to not only be worldlier, but to step out of age-old traditions.
Traditional Pakistani clothing consisted of a classic
salwar kameez or tunic and trouser.
http://i.pbase.com/g4/63/678763/2/63872408.elZHHJqw.jpg
A more chic and stylish fashion is encroaching upon Pakistan’s traditional clothing customs.
http://www.views.pk/fashion-at-the-crossroads
Dating
Dating in Pakistan is also controversial. As many marriages are arranged, and teenagers want to explore the romantics of the opposite sex, this poses cultural dilemmas.
This pretend dialogue is an example of both points of view:
(After school, a mother is picking up her teenage child.)
Fatimah: Hey Mom, thanks for picking me up later today. I had to work on my project.
Mom: No problem. Who was that boy you're with?
Fatimah: Oh... that's... my partner. For the project, I mean...
Mom: Is this the boy you were talking on the phone with these past couple nights?
Fatimah: Yes...
Mom: About what?
Fatimah: School...
Mom: Is there something going on between you two?
Fatimah: I dunno. Nah...
Mom: We talked about this Fatimah! It is wrong to make yourself available to everyone! You are a Muslim girl growing up in a country where temptation is everywhere but you must not sway from your roots.
Fatimah: I dunno! What if I like someone? Then what am I supposed to do? Just give up hope of ever being with them?
Mom: One day when your older and are looker for a husband, things will be different.
Fatimah: Yes, but just because it worked for you doesn't mean it works for me! Why can't I have a say in this?
Mom: Because you are the daughter and I am the mother. End of discussion.
This is a happy couple whose marriage has been arranged.
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2006/09/mollyKissST_600x474.jpg
Other Modernizations
Food
A KFC in Peshawar, Pakistan
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0ao19xA50B24E/610x.jpg
All through Pakistan the traditional meals that have been passed down from
generation to generation and mother to daughter have slowly faded. Instead
a new era of fast food has swooped in to replace them. Rather than sitting
down at the dinner table for a meal of biryani (rice with meat and spices), families
now sit down to eat a bucket of KFC.
Drinking
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0fS12P5cWw1v4/340x.jpg
a container of Murree's 12-year-old Millennium Reserve Single Malt Whisky
produced by Pakistan's Murree's Brewery.
In Islam, the consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited. Under Pakistani
law, only 3% of the country (the non-Muslims) may buy alcohol. Elder
generations find drinking extremely intolerable. However, over the past few
years through the black market sales in alcohol have risen. Today, many
night clubs throughout Pakistan sell alcoholic beverages, an action many
elder generation Pakistanis find outrageous.
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