JELLL

Dehumanization through Mirroring Animal Gaze in Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments

Roshaan Khalid, Maryam Siddique — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article tends to capture the dehumanization of handmaids in The Testaments. Women are objectified through the mirroring animal gaze, they are dehumanized, and led to believe that they are less human as compared to men. Handmaids start believing themselves as animals because they are looked at as animals in the eyes of commanders, and their identity is negated in comparison to commanders. This analysis of gaze has shown that eyes enjoy unique importance in Atwood’s fiction. The patriarchal gaze depends upon the eyes to mortify the subjectivity of women. Therefore, Eyes like Big Brother facilitate Gilead in crushing the resistance of Mayday. Moreover, it is supported by the work of Jacques Lacan who helps to understand the victimization of women through the gaze. The mirroring animal gaze shapes the identity of Daisy and Agnes; they perceive themselves as an animal due to the voyeuristic gaze of the commander. The patriarchal gaze is the first weapon against women in Gilead to develop feelings of dismemberment and alienation. This article also explores the patriarchal gaze that lures the desire of its victims. The feminist resistance is based on a lack that is imitating a patriarchal narrative.

Influence of Korean language on Pakistani youths as passive bilinguals

Aiman Tasneem Syed, Javeria Khan, Sana Siddiqi, Sarwat Farid — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

With the increase of globalization and increased interaction between different subsets of society, cultural groups and ethnicities, bilingualism and multilingualism are an increasing phenomenon. Especially in Pakistan, where multitudes of ethnic diversity means that children grow up learning at least two to three languages and are active bilinguals/multilinguals. However, immersion and exposure to different cultures due to social media and globalisation means that individuals are also likely to be passive bilinguals. Therefore, this study aims to gauge the influence of Korean language on Pakistani youths as passive bilinguals. The study has employed conversational analysis through narrative analysis to examine the effect of Korean language on Pakistani youths. Responses of participants have been analysed to understand the extent of understanding youths have been able to develop of Korean while passively learning the language. There is room for further research as the effect of globalization and social media on passive language acquisition is as yet unexplored.

Amplifying Female Voices in Pakistani Primetime Drama: A Cultural Feminist Analysis of the Drama Serial 'Udaari'

Dua Saud, Usama Javed Iqbal — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Pakistan, women and children are victimized frequently by the patriarchal structure. The worst manifestation of this abuse is sexual offense against women and children whose mal-treatment has become the integral part of South Asian culture. This research unveils the sexual abuse against women and children in Pakistan through cultural feminist perspective which highlights the inequalities and disparities women face in patriarchal societies. It also tries to critically analyze the Urdu drama serial Udaari’s role in women’s empowerment and explores awareness against sexual violence to showcase strong Pakistani female characters who stand against sexual violence and patriarchy in society It also unveils the caring nature of women who contribute for the development and harmony in the society. The results of this research show that despite being a part of patriarchal society, women direly scuffle to take a stand for their basic fundamental rights. They expose the abusers and instead of considering themselves as victims, they consider themselves as survivors. Furthermore, it also highlights that when survivors and their family take a firm stand against the sexual abuse, it becomes inevitable for the judiciary to provide justice to the oppressed women. This drama also concludes that despite several challenges in the judicial system, the judicial system in Pakistan can still be trusted to seek justice for women in the society.

Exploring the Aspect of Silencing of Subaltern Voices and Marginalization Through Textual Analysis of Water (2006) By Bapsi Sidhwa

Mussarat Aziz, SADIA AKHTAR — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This research examines Bapsi Sidhwa’s Water (2006) through a postcolonial lens to explore its representation of subaltern women in colonial India. Basically the research explores by focusing on widows residing in a religious ashram, that how the novel depicts their experiences while exposing the systemic techniques of suppression and marginalization. The research states of employing Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak theory, Sidhwa portrays these women as experiencing double repression due to patriarchal dominance, religious traditions that are firm, and neglect of colonial authorities. The depiction of widowhood as societal death, intensified by economic exploitation, the effects of caste systems and ceremonial isolation. While the colonial context offers some background, it fails to confront these injustices, while worsen the women’ plight. . By placing the experiences of the widows at the crossroads of patriarchy, religion, and imperialism, this study adds to the wider conversation on postcolonial literature and feminist theory, stressing the ongoing difficulty of representing marginalized voices.

Laughing to Learn: Exploring the Impact of Teacher Humor on Motivation and Speaking Skill Development in Pakistani EFL Classrooms

Sajid Iqbal — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The present study investigates the role of teacher humor in enhancing learners’ motivation and speaking skill development in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms at the primary level in Pakistan. Recognizing that affective factors significantly influence second language acquisition, this research explores how humor, as a positive pedagogical strategy, contributes to student engagement, confidence, and communicative competence. Adopting a qualitative research design, data were collected through classroom observations and semi-structured interviews involving three teachers and forty Grade 5 students from a government primary school in Tehsil Lawa, District Chakwal. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that humor was used in multiple forms—verbal, nonverbal, and situational—to facilitate understanding, reduce anxiety, and sustain learners’ attention. The findings indicate that appropriate and contextually relevant humor not only fosters a relaxed and interactive classroom atmosphere but also enhances students’ willingness to participate in speaking tasks. Most students reported increased motivation, better retention of vocabulary, and improved confidence when humor was integrated into lessons. However, the study also cautions that excessive or misplaced humor can momentarily distract learners from instructional goals. Overall, the research concludes that humor, when purposefully and sensitively applied, serves as a powerful tool for creating a supportive and communicative environment conducive to language learning. The study recommends that teacher training programs incorporate humor-based strategies to strengthen classroom rapport and promote active speaking among young EFL learners in Pakistan.