Cousin Marriage in Pakistan

This paper examines the role of cousin marriage in shaping women's autonomy, household status, and labor supply in Pakistan. Existing research offers contradictory claims: some suggest that cousin marriage improves women's position within the household, while others argue it limits their freedoms and economic opportunities. Using data from 15,068 married women in the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18, this study provides new quantitative evidence. Results indicate a modest negative association between cousin marriage and women's participation in paid work, alongside a stronger link to home-based and unpaid labor. Women in cousin marriages do not appear to gain household status relative to those in non-cousin marriages and are more likely to justify spousal violence, reflecting entrenched patriarchal norms. These findings suggest that cousin marriage may reinforce traditional gender roles and constrain women's economic and social autonomy.