WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT
Introduction to Development Studies
Women Empowerment= Equality or Superiority?
Understanding Empowerment
• Empowerment: People have power and control over their own
lives
• Women Empowerment: Empowerment of women
• Process of granting women the power, control, and agency to
participate fully in social, economic, political, and cultural spheres
of life. It involves creating an environment where women can
make independent decisions, exercise their rights, and have equal
access to opportunities, resources, and decision-making
processes.
Continued
• The concept of women empowerment recognizes and aims to
address the historical and systemic inequalities and discrimination
faced by women in many societies. It seeks to challenge and
overcome gender stereotypes, biases, and social norms that limit
women's roles and potential.
• Women empowerment is not about promoting women's superiority
over men but about achieving gender equality and creating a
more inclusive and equitable society. It recognizes that
empowering women benefits not only women themselves but also
their families, communities, and societies as a whole.
Dimensions of Women Empowerment
• Women empowerment encompasses various dimensions, including:
• Education: Promoting and ensuring access to quality education for girls and
women, which can enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities, and enable
them to participate more actively in society.
• Economic empowerment: Ensuring equal opportunities for women in
economic activities, including employment, entrepreneurship, and access to
financial resources, thereby enabling them to achieve financial independence
and economic stability.
• Political participation: Encouraging and supporting women's involvement in
political processes, leadership roles, and decision-making positions at all
levels, from local to national, to ensure their voices are heard and their
interests are represented.
Continued
• Health and well-being: Promoting women's health and well-being by
addressing issues such as reproductive rights, maternal healthcare, access
to healthcare services, and combating gender-based violence and
discrimination.
• Legal and social rights: Working towards the elimination of discriminatory
laws and practices that hinder women's rights and equality, while promoting
gender-responsive policies and frameworks that protect and empower
women.
• Social and cultural change: Challenging gender norms, stereotypes, and
prejudices within society, fostering attitudes and behaviors that promote
gender equality, and creating a supportive environment where women's rights
are respected and upheld.
Why do we need Women Empowerment?
• Women empowerment is crucial for development due to several reasons:
• Economic Growth: Women constitute a significant portion of the population, and their
empowerment contributes to economic growth. When women have equal access to
education, employment, and economic opportunities, they can participate actively in the
labor force, contribute to innovation, and drive economic productivity. Closing the gender gap
in employment and entrepreneurship can unlock a substantial economic potential and lead
to inclusive and sustainable development.
• Poverty Reduction: Empowering women is a powerful tool for poverty reduction. Women
often bear the brunt of poverty, and their empowerment can break the cycle of
intergenerational poverty. By providing women with education, skills training, and economic
resources, they can secure better livelihoods, improve their families' living conditions, and
invest in their children's health and education.
Continued
• Health and Well-being: Women's empowerment is closely linked to improved health
outcomes for themselves and their families. When women have access to education,
healthcare services, and family planning, they can make informed decisions regarding their
reproductive health, resulting in lower maternal and child mortality rates. Empowered women
are more likely to have healthier families, practice better nutrition, and take preventive
measures against diseases.
• Education and Knowledge Transfer: Educating and empowering women has a multiplier
effect on society. When women are educated, they are more likely to educate their children,
creating a positive intergenerational impact. Educated women can transfer knowledge, skills,
and values to their families, contribute to the educational development of their communities,
and act as agents of change.
Continued
• Social and Political Participation: Women's empowerment is essential for promoting
inclusive and democratic societies. When women have equal opportunities for political
participation, their voices are heard, and their perspectives and needs are addressed in
decision-making processes. Women's representation in politics and leadership positions
fosters more balanced and inclusive policies, laws, and governance systems.
• Gender Equality and Human Rights: Women's empowerment is fundamentally about
ensuring gender equality and protecting human rights. Empowering women means
challenging discriminatory norms, traditions, and practices that hinder their progress and
limit their opportunities. It promotes the realization of women's rights, including the rights to
education, health, employment, and participation in social, economic, and political spheres.
• By promoting women's empowerment, societies can harness the full potential of half their
population, leading to sustainable development, social progress, and a more equitable and
just world.
The Global Reality
Underdevelopment of women is a complex issue that cannot be solved in isolation and requires
holistic efforts in all areas. Globally, following is the situation of the underdevelopment of women
in the world
Education
• 132 million girls out of school in 2019 (UNESCO)
• Lower female enrollment rates and higher dropout rates
• Two thirds of the world’s illiterate population are women
• Disparities in literacy rates for women in a majority of the countries
Employment and Economic Participation
• Lower labor force participation rates than men. ILO: 74.5% labor force participation for men
and 47.6% for women
• Major wage gaps and limited access to opportunities specially at high paying jobs
• Large portion of women work in informal sector which lacks social protection, benefits and
employment rights
Continued
Political Representation
• - Women's representation in national parliaments
remains low. As of September 2021, women held 25.5%
of parliamentary seats worldwide (Inter-Parliamentary
Union).
• - Women's political empowerment varies greatly across
countries, with significant disparities in leadership roles
and decision-making positions.
Continued
Health and Well-being
• Extremely high maternal mortality rates due to low quality healthcare,
education and family planning
• Gender based violence (domestic violence, sexual assault, child marriage,
female genital mutilation)
Technology and Digital Divide
• Large gender gap in access and use of digital technologies limiting eocnomic
opportunities, education, participation in digital economy
The situation in Pakistan
Pakistan ranks 145th out of 146 countries globally in the Gender Gap Index
Education
• Lower literacy for females compared to males (aged 15 and above 55.36% for females,
71.59% for males in 2020)
• Clear different in enrollment rates particularly in rural areas and marginalized communities
• Higher dropout rates
Employment and Economic Participation
• The labor force participation rate for women in Pakistan is significantly lower than that for
men. (2020: the female labor force participation rate was 22.7%, while for men, it was
82.3%) (World Bank).
• Barriers in employment, wage gap and limited opportunities
• Absence in managerial positions and decision making
Continued
• Political Representation
• - Women's representation in the National Assembly of
Pakistan is relatively low. As of September 2021, women
held 20.7% of the seats in the National Assembly (Inter-
Parliamentary Union).
• - Women's political participation is hindered by various
factors, including cultural norms, lack of support
structures, and gender-based discrimination.
Continued
Health and Well-being
• Extremely high maternal mortality rates. WHO: 178 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017
• Gender based violence, honor killings, acid attacks
• Low quality healthcare specially in remote areas
Child Marriage and Gender Inequality
• Child marriage is prevalent in Pakistan. According to UNICEF, 21% of women in Pakistan
are married before the age of 18.
• Gender inequality, patriarchal norms, and discriminatory practices contribute to the
marginalization and underdevelopment of women in various spheres of life.
• These statistics highlight some of the challenges and disparities faced by women in
Pakistan. It is crucial for the government, civil society organizations, and communities to
work together to address these issues and promote gender equality and women's
empowerment in the country.
