The Semiotics of Submission: Punjabi Folktales as Cultural Scripts of Gendered Behaviour

Abstract

Folktales are a key part of a culture's history. Storytellers do more than tell stories. They pass down social rules, morals, and ideas about gender from one generation to the next. These stories act as guides that tell people how to act and who they should be. They often support the people in power. This study looks at five selected old Punjabi folktales to see how they push ideas of submission. It examines how these stories build and keep gender roles inside a patriarchal system. The research uses Critical Discourse Analysis. It takes a qualitative approach to look at symbols, language, and ideas. The researcher opted Thematic Content Analysis on the five stories to find common patterns. Researcher want to see how masculinity and femininity are shown. To get a full picture, the study includes interviews with famous folk storytellers. These experts explain why the stories matter today and how they are told. Combining the texts with these interviews helps show how symbols make gender expectations seem normal. The study expects to find that these tales praise women who are quiet, loyal, and obedient. At the same time, they reward men for being in charge and having power. These patterns teach people to accept patriarchal values. This research treats folktales as tools for teaching social behavior rather than just old art. It adds to the fields of sociology and gender studies by showing how stories help maintain the social order.