Table 2.

Themes, categories and sub-categories describing the perceptions by women on gender role expectations and differing life circumstances for women and men in urban Karachi, Pakistan

Themes	Categories	Sub-categories
Reiteration of traditional gender roles	How to behave as a female and male	A good woman, wife, daughter-in-law, mother and daughter
		A good man, husband and father
	When females and males behave badly	A bad woman, wife and daughter-in-law
		A bad man and husband
	Perceptions of female and male power	Power of women
		Mother reinforcing the controlling role of father
		Power of men
		Women's experiences of practising traditional gender roles
	The role of culture and the extended family	Suppression of women within the extended family
		Religion used to legitimise the denial of women rights
		Older generation's attitudes and approach to gender roles
		Restricting herself to retain the family honour
Agents of change	Societal change	Education in society brings change
		Public media as supportive agent
		Women support system
	Individuals’ capacity and attitudes	Capability and performance of girls
		Younger generation's attitudes to gender roles
		Balancing gender roles and opportunity
		Professional women and awareness of rights
		Extended families’ supportive function