Language, Power and Gendered Silence through Hegemonic Euphemism in Gul’s A Pathan Daughter

Abstract

Language shapes and is shaped by society. It is rarely neutral as it affects norms, perception, and veils power asymmetries. Euphemistic language often masks hegemony and inequalities particularly in patriarchal societies. This study examines the hegemonic function of euphemistic language in Gul’s A Pathan Daughter (2024). The researcher utilizes mixed method. AntConc 4.3.0 (Anthony, 2024) is used for frequency count and Lutz’s (2016) doublespeak framework is employed to examine how linguistic manipulation obscures gendered victimization and oppression. Findings of the study reveal that a persistent use of euphemistic language confines women within the walls of domesticity, while parental control is framed as compassionate guidance; obedience negotiated as honor, education labelled as dangerous, and impractical and forced marriage as a tradition. These linguistic manipulations are utilized to normalize obedience, neutralize resistance, and to internalize the patriarchal control. Euphemistic language operates as an effective weapon of hegemony as well as an internalized mode of compliance. The study exposes how patriarchal hegemony is sustained and inequalities are naturalized through everyday language in A Pathan Daughter (2024). The findings of this study add valuable insights to the context of sociolinguistics and feminist theory by providing a comprehensive and empirical data about the hegemonic function of euphemistic language in enforcing patriarchal control in certain Pakistani fiction.   

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest related to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article, and that the data presented have not been fabricated or falsified.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant or financial support from public, commercial, or not-for profit funding agencies.

Participant Consent:  The authors confirm that Informed consent was obtained from all participants, and confidentiality was duly maintained.

Data Fabrication/Falsification Statement: The authors declare that no data have been fabricated, falsified, or manipulated in this study.

Copyright: Copyright (c) 2026 Tariq Mehmood Khalid, Abdul Qayyum Sahar, & Tallat Jabeen