The Challenges of Women Empowerment in Pakistan: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Since ages the social rights and social wrongs have been pointed out, but have always lagged behind private ethics, slavery, racism, colonial exploitation and genocide have been known to be tolerated until fairly recently, and in some parts of the world, even today. Inequity has been prevalent in societies, although for their own survival. Civilizations have had to raise some voices against it, even if half-heartedly. At the centre of these inequalities lies the most common, most prevalent, most obvious and yet most ignored of all discriminations-the gender based ones. This discrimination for a very long time was seen as something that resulted from the natural differences and was, therefore, tolerated. Even the Enlightenment philosopher Amanual Kant did not intend to include women in the ranks of people capable of attaining freedom from traditional forms of authority. Although the motto of Enlightenment was “Have courage to use your own reason”, it somehow did not extend to women probably because women weren’t seen as capable of having any reason at first place. They have usually been seen as a weak link and incapable of handling even their own personal issues what to talk of society’s issues at large, this was a general myth far from reality. Unfortunately, this mind-set has been prevailing from the historical to contemporary times, mostly in developing countries and especially in Pakistan. While a lot has been done in the recent times towards women empowerment in Pakistan, yet rural areas seem to be lagging behind. This research article unveils the issues related to women empowerment in Pakistan aimed at enhancing gender equality and proposing rightful place for the women as enshrined in the teachings of Islam and the constitution of Pakistan. This is intellectual discourse; therefore, views expressed are author’s own views.