The Sacred and the Profane

One of the reasons why Pakistani housewives living in the West feel so isolated is that they never participate in community activities. They only socialize with other Pakistanis and sometimes due to distances that is not possible. In most US cities there are quite active Parents-Teachers Associations and several city council initiatives in which women participate; there are several community college bases short courses which provide opportunity for personal growth, however most Pakistani women, at least to the best of my knowledge, never get involved in these. These women are programmed to be completely devoted to their families and households, and even a temporary getaway, for example taking up a short course, is quite unthinkable to them.