Abstract
Gender gaps in political participation are quite persistent and significant in both developed and under developing countries. However, femininity and political participation has very much less researched area. This study explains how are the dominant, hegemonic discourses of gender producing subordinate, submissive feminine identities that adhere to the masculine political connotations and result in the low political participation in Pakistan. Social constructionist understanding of gender is the underlying theoretical foundation of this article. This research engages qualitative research methodology and method includes in-depth interviews with 20 women selected purposefully, participant and non participant observation and various informal discussions with women informants. It can be concluded that domesticity ideology, gendered division of labor, traditional gender roles, strict division of private and public sphere, adherence to essentialist and biological determinism, hegemonic political structure and the emphasized femininity are characteristics of feminine identity in the Pakistan. This feminine identity is undermining women capabilities, creating social barrier and leaving meager spaces in the masculine political structure of Pakistan and hence, lowering the level of political participation.