Empowering Pakistani Women through Education: A Mixed-Method Exploration of Psychological Strength and Resilience
Keywords:
Education, Sense of Security, Self-Determination, Autonomy, Resilience, Women Psychological Empowerment.Abstract
This study addresses the critical issue of enhancing women's psychological empowerment through education in Dir Lower, Pakistan, where deeply entrenched socio-cultural norms and gender disparities persist. The research explores how education acts as a catalyst for empowering women in terms of security, independence, competence, self-determination, motivation, and resilience, within a challenging societal context. Dir Lower, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, exemplifies a society where traditional gender roles often hinder women's access to education and opportunities. This research aims to investigate how education, despite these constraints, can empower women in Dir Lower to navigate life's challenges confidently. The unique challenges faced by women in Dir Lower, including limited access to quality education, cultural norms, and gender-based violence, make this problem particularly critical. Understanding how education affects these dimensions of psychological empowerment is essential for improving the well-being and empowerment of women in this region. This research adopts a mixed-methods approach, using quantitative analyses like the Chi-square test, correlation analysis, and regression analysis to establish the relationship between education and psychological empowerment. Qualitative in-depth interviews provide insights into women's personal experiences regarding education's impact on their empowerment. The findings reveal that education plays a central and multifaceted role in promoting women's psychological empowerment in Dir Lower. Quantitative data offer robust statistical evidence, while qualitative narratives deepen our understanding of how education influences empowerment. Policy implications include increased investment in girls' education, creating safe and inclusive learning environments, community engagement, teacher training, financial incentives, mentorship, life skills education, community-based support services, collaboration with NGOs, data collection, and digital literacy. Implementing these policies can transform education into a powerful tool for enhancing women's psychological empowerment, fostering gender equality, and contributing to more empowered and resilient communities in Dir Lower, Pakistan.
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