Suicidology Online 2019;10:6 ISSN 2078-5488 1 Original Research Gender and Suicide: an Exploration of Suicidality with Reference to Gender in Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Nasar Khan 1, , Arab Naz 2 , Waseem Khan 3 , Waqar Shahzad 4 , Ayesha Gul 5 1 Lecturer in Sociology, University of Chitral, Pakistan 2 Professor in Sociology, University of Malakand, Paksitan 3 Lecturer in Sociology, University of Malakand, Pakistan 4 M.Phil Scholar, Arid Agriculture University, Pakistan 5 Department of Social Work, SBKWU University Baluchistan, Pakistan Submitted to SOL: July 11 th , 2018; accepted: March 19 th , 2019; published: May 12 th , 2019 Abstract.Introduction: Suicide and related issues are one of the under studied social problems in Pakistan (see Daily Times, 2015) despite the fact that it prevails and is on increase with the passage of time in Pakistan (Ebrahim, 2013). Gender is an eminent aspect in relevance to suicide and related behaviors (Samaritans, 2012). This study is an effort to investigate into suicide and related issues with specific reference to gender. Study Area: the current study investigates into suicide and related issues with specific reference to gender in District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwah, Pakistan. Methodology: this study is cross-sectional and has been framed under qualitative research design. Sampling for the study has been done purposively whereby 35 individuals were sampled with the history of attempting a suicide. Besides, information from area hospitals has been collected regarding suicide and related cases in order to identify the rate of attempting a suicide among men and women. The sampled individuals were interviewed through an interview guide. The collected information from hospitals regarding rates and methods of suicide attempt has been tabulated while the information collected through in-depth interviews has been linked with the available literature to produce authentic findings. Findings: findings of the study are theorized into four dimensions according to objectives and themes: first, there is variation in rates of attempted suicide and completion of suicide across gender; second, gender plays a significant role in choosing method of attempting a suicide; third, masculinity has its own specific role in making men suicidal; and fourth, mental illness varies among men and women leading to difference in rates of attempting suicides. Keywords:gender, suicide, suicide attempt, masculinity, mental illness Copyrights belong to the Author(s). Suicidology Online (SOL) is a peer-reviewed open-access journal publishing under the Creative Commons Licence 3.0. Background of the Study Suicidal behaviours are one of the preeminent global health worries (Trigrotis et al., 2011). Suicide is considered as an individual act, however; in broader perspective, it is the outcome of societal problems, and concomitantly, affects society (Omigdobun, Adejumo and Babalola, 2008). Suicide is responsible not only for loss of an individual, but also is devastating for family and friends of those  Nasar Khan. Lecturer in Sociology, University of Chitral, Pakistan. Email address: nasar_s12@yahoo.com who commit suicide (Samaritans, 2012). In this connection, suicide is an important societal aspect to be considered as it is one of the leading causes of death worldwide in particular among young people. Gender is an imperative socio-cultural concept. Gender refers to the culturally and socially constructed differences between females and males found in the meanings, beliefs, and practices associated with “femininity” and “masculinity” (for further details see Kendall, 2007). Gender matters