Social Stigma and Mental Health-Seeking Behaviour among Widowed Women in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study with Feminist Literary Analysis of Bapsi Sidhwa’s Water

Abstract

This study examines the impact of social stigma on the mental health-seeking behaviour of widowed women in Pakistan, with a particular focus on depression, anxiety, and related psychosocial challenges. The research also explores the representation of widowhood, gendered oppression, and patriarchal structures in Sidhwa’s novel Water, using it as a literary lens to contextualize lived experiences of widowed women. Employing a qualitative research design, the study integrates primary and secondary data sources. Primary data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15–18 widowed Pakistani women aged between 18 and 49 years, selected through purposive sampling. Secondary data included the novel Water along with relevant scholarly literature. Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke’s framework, was used to identify recurring patterns and construct meaningful themes from the data. The findings reveal that widowed women frequently experience depression, anxiety, social isolation, and reduced self-esteem, largely due to stigma, cultural expectations, and limited awareness of mental health services. Key barriers to seeking psychological help include financial constraints, family disapproval, cultural taboos, and fear of social labelling. However, factors such as family support, accessibility of services, confidentiality, and affordability were found to encourage help-seeking behaviour . The study further identifies six major themes: perceptions of mental health services, lived experiences, socio-cultural influences, barriers, suggestions for improvement, and facilitators of help-seeking. In addition, a feminist analysis of Water demonstrates how widows in pre-independence India are portrayed as marginalized and exploited under rigid patriarchal and religious structures. The novel reinforces the persistence of gender inequality across historical and contemporary contexts. Overall, the study concludes that widowhood stigma significantly shapes women’s psychological well-being and access to mental health care, highlighting the need for culturally responsive interventions, awareness campaigns, and improved mental health infrastructure in Pakistan.