Regimes of patriarchy and faith: reflections on challenges in interviewing women and religious minorities in Pakistan

Purpose This paper discusses the challenges that two doctoral researchers faced while researching religious minorities and women in a culturally sensitive society such as Pakistan. Their shared interest topics related to gender Pakistan led both collaborate this study provide better understanding of issues qualitative research same context. They discuss interviewing participants within educational also suggest some ways overcome challenges. Design/methodology/approach Based on Foucualt's writings regimes truth, discourse systems exclusion, authors analyze how patriarchal faith-based truth constrain discourses affect participants’ willingness insights reflect freely. Findings While reflecting their experiences data collection, report struggle access investigate subjectivities minority faiths contexts developing societies like Researchers face variety problems, from own positionality responses. The reason for is intersecting relations restrict ability issues. Minorities are often prevented expressing views freely by blasphemy fears. sensitive. Therefore, suggests Pakistan, where religion emotive terms, problem can be handled counter-discourses challenge conceiving transformative practice. Moreover, require policy protecting knowledge production dissemination. Originality/value originally based primary used studies.