Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan: A Case of Male-Dominated Society
Keywords:
Women’s Empowerment, Gender Inequality, Patriarchy, Gender-Based Discrimination, Education and Employment, Political ParticipationAbstract
Women's empowerment is an important predictor of social and economic growth, yet gender gaps remain in Pakistan owing to ingrained patriarchal norms, socio-cultural constraints, economic impediments, and poor legal frameworks. This study looks at the various barriers to women's empowerment in Pakistan, focusing on three key areas: (1) socio-cultural and economic barriers, (2) the role of education, economic opportunities, and legal frameworks in addressing gender inequality, and (3) the impact of patriarchal norms on women's decision-making and agency. The findings, which are based on literature research and semi-structured interviews, show that rigid gender roles, financial reliance, weak legal enforcement, and low political participation continue to impede women's autonomy. Although legislative measures exist to protect women's rights, their execution is ineffectual owing to socio-cultural opposition and institutional flaws. The research emphasizes the importance of comprehensive efforts to combat systemic discrimination, such as gender-sensitive legislative reforms, economic empowerment programs, and educational interventions.
References
Abdullah, F., & Shoaib, M. (2021). Psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study of Mirpur, Pakistan. International Review of Sociology, 31(3), 1-17.
Ahmad, A., Shoaib, M., & Abdullah, F. (2021). COVID-19 black swan and personal protective equipment (PPE) in Pakistan. Health Education, 122(4), 365-373.
Ahmad, J., Ahmad, A., Shoaib, M., & Shaukat, B. (2021). Public Library Online Information Resources to Library Patrons during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case of Higher Education Institutions. Library Philosophy and Practice, 1-14.
Ahmad, J., Shoaib, M., & Shaukat, B. (2021). Academic Library Resources and Services at Higher Education Institutions during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case of Students’ Satisfaction. Library Philosophy and Practice, 1-17.
Ali, R., Zaman, M. A., & Shoaib, M. (2024). Trends of Research Visualization of Gender Inequality, Equality, and Equity: A Bibliometric Analysis from 1981 to 2020. Pakistan Journal of Law, Analysis and Wisdom, 3(8), 237–252.
Ali, S., & Bhatti, F. (2019). Gender Disparities in Pakistan’s Labor Market: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Economic Development, 34(2), 77-94.
Anwar, B., Shoaib, M., & Javed, S. (2013). Women’s autonomy and their role in decision making at household level: a case of rural Sialkot, Pakistan. World Applied Sciences Journal, 23(1), 129-136.
Anwar, B., Shoaib, M., & Shahid, U. (2024). Academic Performance of the Students in Higher Education in Pakistan: The Role of Information and Communication Technology. Pakistan Social Sciences Review, 8(2), 472-482.
Bibi, S., & Ahmad, R. (2022). Honor-Based Violence and Its Impact on Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan. Asian Journal of Social Sciences, 45(3), 112-130.
Fatima, N., & Qureshi, H. (2019). Media and Gender Stereotypes: The Role of Representation in Women’s Empowerment. Journal of Media Studies, 28(4), 66-89.
Haq, R. (2021). Patriarchy and Women’s Rights in South Asia: The Case of Pakistan. Journal of Gender Studies, 39(1), 101-120.
Jafar, S. (2018). Judicial Bias and Gender Justice: The Challenges of Legal Reforms in Pakistan. Human Rights Law Journal, 14(3), 87-104.
Kausar, N., Mumta, S., & Shoaib, M. (2023). Lived Experiences of Individuals with Gender Dysphoria: A Qualitative Analysis. Sexuality and Culture, 1-18.
Khan, A., & Saeed, F. (2021). Women’s Political Participation in Pakistan: Barriers and Pathways. Policy Review Journal, 22(1), 88-110.
Khan, R., Nisar, N., & Javed, S. (2020). The Role of Education in Women’s Empowerment: A Case Study of Pakistan. International Journal of Gender Studies, 16(2), 55-74.
Mahmood, T., & Sattar, H. (2020). Gender Wage Gap and Workplace Discrimination in Pakistan: An Empirical Analysis. Journal of Labour Economics, 42(1), 112-130.
Naeem, A., & Shaukat, F. (2021). The Impact of Workplace Harassment on Women’s Employment Retention in Pakistan. South Asian Journal of Human Resource Management, 9(3), 223-245.
Naseer, A., Shoaib, M., Ali, N., & Ahmad, I. (2021). Research Visualization of Different Treatment Modalities to Treat COVID-19 Infection: Bibliometric Analysis of PubMed Database. Library Philosophy and Practice, 5891, 1-17.
Naseer, A., Shoaib, M., Ali, N., & Bilal, M. (2021). Trend of Research Visualization of COVID-19 Complications in PubMed Database Using Scientometric Analysis from 2020 to March 20, 2021. Library Philosophy and Practice, 5731, 1-17.
Noreen, S., & Khalid, M. (2021). Educational Barriers and Gender Inequality in Pakistan: Challenges and Policy Recommendations. Education and Society, 31(4), 144-167.
Rafique, U., & Shoaib, M. (2015). Labor Force Participation and Fertility Behavior: Gender Focused Study of South Asian Countries. Research Journal of Social Science & Management, 5(1), 212-217.
Shoaib, M. (2021). Sociological Analysis of Teachers Perspectives on Students Academic Performance in Higher Education in the Punjab. (PhD Thesis). International Islamic University Islamabad, Central Library.
Shoaib, M. (2023a, September 22). Galvanising Bourdieu’s typology with Pakistani education and social class. The Nation, p. 4.
Shoaib, M. (2023b, December 05). Gender Differences in Academic Performance. The Nation.
Shoaib, M. (2023c). Leisure and Psychological Well-being of the Elderly: Nexus of Mass Media and Modern Technology. Pakistan Journal of Law, Analysis and Wisdom, 2(2), 1042–1053.
Shoaib, M. (2024a, January 09). Gender Disparity in Education. The Nation.
Shoaib, M. (2024b). Gender Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Law, Analysis and Wisdom, 3(1), 207-222.
Shoaib, M. (2024c, April 30). Gendered Space in Higher Education. Daily Parliament Times, p. 3.
Shoaib, M. (2024d). Gendering Bourdieu’s Cultural Capital in Higher Education in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Law, Analysis and Wisdom, 3(2), 265-278.
Shoaib, M. (2024e). Tailoring Theoretical Lens and Nudging Bourdieu’s Cultural Capital on Gender and Academic Performance. Journal of Social Sciences Review, 4(4), 87–101.
Shoaib, M., & Abdullah, F. (2020). Risk Reduction of COVID-19 Pandemic in Pakistan. Social Work in Public Health, 35(7), 557-568. doi:10.1080/19371918.2020.1806172
Shoaib, M., & Abdullah, F. (2021). COVID-19 backlash: psycho-social impacts of outbreak in Pakistan. Health Education, 121(3), 265-274.
Shoaib, M., & Ullah, H. (2019). Female and Male Students’ Educational Performance in Tertiary Education in the Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Social Issues, X(1), 83-100.
Shoaib, M., & Ullah, H. (2021a). Classroom Environment, Teacher, and Girl Students’ Learning Skills. Education and Urban Society, 53(9), 1039-1063. doi:10.1177/00131245211001908
Shoaib, M., & Ullah, H. (2021b). Teachers' perspectives on factors of female students' outperformance and male students' underperformance in higher education. International Journal of Educational Management, 35(3), 684-699. doi:10.1108/IJEM-05-2020-0261
Shoaib, M., Abdullah, F., & Ali, N. (2020). Library Resources and Research Environment in Higher Education Institutions: Students’ Satisfaction. Library Philosophy and Practice, 1-18.
Shoaib, M., Abdullah, F., & Ali, N. (2021). A Research Visualization of Academic Learning Skills among Students in Higher Education Institutions: A Bibliometric Evidence from 1981 to 2020. Library Philosophy and Practice, 5579, 1-34.
Shoaib, M., Ahmad, A., Ali, N., & Abdullah, F. (2021). Trend of Research Visualization of Learning, Classroom, and Class Participation in Higher Education Institutions: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2001 to 2020. Library Philosophy and Practice, 5743, 1-26.
Shoaib, M., Ali, N., & Naseer, A. (2021). Plotting the Literature on Precautionary Measures of COVID-19: A Scientometric Analysis of Web of Science. Library Philosophy and Practice, 5899, 1-20.
Shoaib, M., Ali, N., Anwar, B., & Abdullah, F. (2022). Library services and facilities in higher education institutions during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Pakistan. Journal of Information Science, 1-14.
Shoaib, M., Ali, N., Anwar, B., & Shaukat, B. (2021). Plotting the Literature on Learning Outcomes and Academic Performance in Higher Education from 2001 to 2020: A Scientometric Analysis. Library Philosophy and Practice, 5919, 1-24.
Shoaib, M., Ali, N., Anwar, B., Rasool, S., Mustafa, R.-e., & Zici, S. (2021). Research Visualization on Teaching, Language, Learning of English and Higher Education Institutions from 2011 to 2020: A Bibliometric Evidences Library Philosophy and Practice, 5677, 1-27.
Shoaib, M., Ali, S. R., & Abbas, Z. (2024). Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of Learning Skills Among Students in Higher Education. Pakistan Journal of Law, Analysis and Wisdom, 3(7), 164-177.
Shoaib, M., Khan, S., & Ashraf, A. (2011). Occupational Risk Factors Associated with Reproductive Health of Working Women: A Case Study of University of Gujrat. Academic Research International, 1(2), 292.
Shoaib, M., Khan, S., & Khan, M. H. (2011). Family support and health status of elderly people: A case study of district gujrat, Pakistan. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 10(4), 519-525.
Shoaib, M., Latif, B., & Usmani, F. (2013). Economic contribution changes the decision-making of working women; A case of Bhimben District-AJK. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 16(5), 602-606.
Shoaib, M., Mehmood, S., & Butt, S. M. (2022). Intention to Leave a Job among Public Sector University Teachers: A Case of Work Environment. Pakistan Journal of Social Research, 4(2), 370-383.
Shoaib, M., Munir, A., Masood, M., Ali, Q., & Sher, F. (2012). Education as a Source of Child Health Care Practices: A Case of Mothers in Tehsil Kharian, Gujrat-Pakistan. World Applied Sciences Journal, 19(5), 754-761.
Shoaib, M., Mustafa, R.-E.-., & Hussain, K. G. (2022). Revisiting Classroom Environment and Academic Performance of the Students in Higher Education Institutions. Pakistan Journal of Social Research, 4(3), 969-986.
Shoaib, M., Rasool, S., Anwar, B., & Ali, R. (2023). Academic library resources and research support services to English teachers in higher education institutions. Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, 35(1), 17-27.
Shoaib, M., Saeed, Y., & Cheema, S. N. (2012). Education and Women's Empowerment at Household Level: A Case Study of Women in Rural Chiniot, Pakistan. Academic Research International, 2(1), 519-526.
Shoaib, M., Shaukat, B., Khan, M. N. A., & Saeed, M. (2013). Family Environment and the Concept of Tolerance among Family Members: A Case of Faisalabad-Pakistan. World Applied Sciences Journal, 23(1), 123-128.
Shoaib, M., Shehzadi, K., & Abbas, Z. (2023). Contemporary Research on Learning Spaces and Teacher Effectiveness in Higher Education. Pakistan Journal of Law, Analysis and Wisdom, 2(03), 352–369.
Shoaib, M., Shehzadi, K., & Abbas, Z. (2024a). Inclusivity and Teachers’ Aptitude in Higher Education in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Law, Analysis and Wisdom, 3(6), 219-237.
Shoaib, M., Shehzadi, K., & Abbas, Z. (2024b). Inclusivity, Teacher Competency, and Learning Environment at Higher Education: Empirical Evidences. Pakistan Journal of Law, Analysis and Wisdom, 3(5), 244-261.
Shoaib, M., Usmani, F., & Abdullah, F. (2023). Plotting The Literature On Social Work Education From 1971-2020: A Scientometric Analysis. Pakistan Journal of Social Research, 5(2), 1347-1360.
Syed, J., & Ali, A. (2019). Institutional Challenges in Implementing Gender-Based Legal Reforms in Pakistan. International Journal of Law and Society, 26(2), 98-122.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2023). Gender Equality in Pakistan: Progress and Challenges. UNDP Pakistan Report.
World Economic Forum. (2023). Global Gender Gap Report 2023: Pakistan’s Progress and Challenges. Retrieved from www.weforum.org
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Rehana Yaqoob, Muhammad Anwar-ul-Haq
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
LEGALOPEDIA EDUCATINIA (PVT) LTD