Abstract
Despite numerous efforts in Pakistan’s parliament, women’s rights have not been fully acknowledged throughout the country. This factor is significantly worse in district Bajaur (previously FATA) as compared to other districts across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This is due to the district’s low socioeconomic status, as it has been plagued by insurgency, militancy, insecurity, sectarian violence, and insufficient government-led development initiatives. Moreover, the patriarchal culture of the tribes has limited the socio-economic and political empowerment of women in the area, resulting in a shallow level of women’s empowerment. Women are restricted to traditional roles such as household caretaking, with limited opportunities to contribute to the development of society. Thus, the tribal setup and cultural traditions hinder women’s mobility, access to education, job opportunities, and participation in political activities. Fear of stigmatization is also prevalent, causing women to be hesitant to participate in the development of their families and society. Based on primary and secondary data of sources, this study finds that women’s empowerment in social, economic, and political domains is connected to several factors, including social taboos, economy and self-proclaimed religious barriers. These include literacy rates, education levels, awareness, equal rights, freedom of movement, decision-making and participation, employment opportunities, access to resources, and overall societal progress. Moreover, this research study suggests that creating job opportunities and providing education for women in the Bajaur district can increase their income and promote women’s empowerment under the guidelines of UN’s SDGs and discourage radical feminism.
Presenters
Javed KalhoroAssistant Professor, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Religious Community and Socialization
KEYWORDS
WOMEN, CONFLICT, POLITICAL ISLAM, FATA, EMPOWERMENT
