WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Presented By: Ahwar Hasan & Mazhar Naeem

Presented To: Ma’am Javeria Shaukat

June 9, 2023

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TABLE OF CONTENT:

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 ABSTRACT:

This report focuses on the vital subject of women empowerment, which plays a pivotal role in
fostering gender equality, social progress, and sustainable development. Women
empowerment encompasses various aspects, including economic, social, and political
empowerment, as well as access to education, healthcare, and decision-making opportunities.

The report provides an overview of the current status of women's empowerment globally,
highlighting both the significant strides made and the persistent challenges that remain. It
presents a comprehensive analysis of the key factors influencing women's empowerment,
such as cultural norms, institutional barriers, and socio-economic disparities.

Furthermore, the report explores successful strategies and initiatives that have proven
effective in promoting women's empowerment in different regions and contexts. It examines
the role of education in empowering women and discusses the importance of providing equal
educational opportunities to girls and women. Additionally, the report explores the economic
empowerment of women through entrepreneurship, skill development, and access to financial
resources.

Political empowerment is also a crucial aspect covered in this report. It analyzes the
importance of women's representation in political leadership and decision-making positions,
as well as the challenges and opportunities faced in this domain. The report also highlights
the significance of legal reforms, policies, and initiatives that support gender equality and
women's rights.

The report concludes by emphasizing the multi-dimensional nature of women's

empowerment and the need for holistic approaches that address the various interrelated
factors. It calls for collaborative efforts from governments, civil society organizations, the
private sector, and individuals to create an enabling environment that fosters women's
empowerment and ensures gender equality.

By shedding light on the achievements, challenges, and potential solutions related to women's
empowerment, this report aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on gender equality and
inspire actionable steps towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

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 INTRODUCTION:

Women empowerment has emerged as a crucial topic of discussion and action in the pursuit
of achieving gender equality and promoting sustainable development worldwide. It
encompasses a wide range of factors and initiatives aimed at dismantling the barriers that
hinder women's progress in various spheres of life, including social, economic, and political
domains. Women empowerment not only benefits individuals but also contributes to the
overall advancement of societies and nations.

Over the years, significant progress has been made in recognizing and addressing gender
disparities. Efforts have been undertaken to enhance women's access to education, healthcare,
economic opportunities, and decision-making roles. However, numerous challenges persist,
underscoring the need for continued action and sustained commitment towards women's
empowerment.

This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic of women empowerment,
analyzing its significance, examining the current state of affairs, and exploring effective
strategies and initiatives that can drive meaningful change. It emphasizes the multifaceted
nature of women's empowerment and the interconnectedness of its various dimensions.

The report will delve into the factors that contribute to women's empowerment, including
social and cultural norms, institutional barriers, and socio-economic disparities. It will
examine the role of education in empowering women and how providing equal educational
opportunities can have a transformative impact. Additionally, the report will explore the
economic empowerment of women, focusing on entrepreneurship, skill development, and
access to financial resources.

Political empowerment is another critical aspect that will be discussed, highlighting the
importance of women's representation in decision-making processes and leadership roles. The
report will also explore legal reforms, policies, and initiatives that support gender equality
and women's rights.

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 RESEARCH METHOD:

Reading different articles newspapers, and the book (Becoming) written by:
Michelle Obama. Listening to different activists, podcasts and scholars and
gathering related knowledge to present in the report that’s how I gathered
the knowledge of this report.

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 FINDINGS:

Progress and Challenges: Significant progress has been made in promoting women's
empowerment globally. Women's access to education has increased, and more women are
participating in the workforce and assuming leadership roles. However, numerous challenges
persist, including gender-based discrimination, violence against women, limited access to
economic resources, and underrepresentation in decision-making positions.
1. Multi-dimensional Nature: Women empowerment is a multi-dimensional concept that
encompasses various aspects of women's lives. It involves economic empowerment,
social empowerment, political empowerment, access to education, healthcare, and
decision-making opportunities. These dimensions are interconnected and mutually
reinforcing, highlighting the need for holistic approaches.

2. Education as a Catalyst: Education plays a pivotal role in women's empowerment.

Providing equal educational opportunities to girls and women not only enhances their
knowledge and skills but also promotes their confidence, agency, and ability to
participate in society. Investment in girls' education has far-reaching positive effects
on individual well-being, family welfare, and community development.

3. Economic Empowerment: Economic empowerment is crucial for women's overall

empowerment. Encouraging entrepreneurship, skill development, and access to
financial resources can enhance women's economic independence, improve their
living standards, and contribute to poverty reduction. Supporting women-owned
businesses and providing tailored financial services can unlock economic potential
and promote inclusive growth.

4. Political Empowerment: Women's representation in political leadership and decision-

making positions remains low, highlighting the persistent gender gaps in this domain.
Increasing women's political participation is essential for achieving gender-responsive
policies, promoting inclusive governance, and addressing women's specific needs and
concerns.

5. Legal Reforms and Policy Interventions: Legal reforms and policies are vital for
promoting women's empowerment and protecting their rights. Enacting and enforcing
laws that criminalize gender-based violence, ensure equal pay for equal work, and
remove discriminatory practices can create an enabling environment for women's
empowerment. Additionally, policies promoting work-life balance, affordable
childcare, and maternity leave support women's participation in the workforce.
6. Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Women's empowerment requires
collaboration among various stakeholders, including governments, civil society
organizations, the private sector, and individuals. Partnerships and collective action
are necessary to address systemic barriers, change social norms, and create supportive
environments that empower women.

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 REFERENCES:

http://www.unifem.org.in/Bridging%20the%20Digital%20Gender%20Divide.htm
Gurumurthy, A. (2003) Bridging the Digital Gender Divide: Issues and Insights on ICT for
Women’s Economic Empowerment

Kabeer, N. (2005) Is Microfinance a "Magic Bullet" for Women’s Empowerment? Analysis

of Findings from South Asia. Economic and Political Weekly. 29 October
2005
http://www.epw.org.in/showIndex.php

Mayoux, L. (2006) Women’s Empowerment through Sustainable Micro-Finance: Rethinking

“Best Practice”
http://www.enterpriseimpact.org.uk/pdf/WomensEmpowermentthroughSustainableMicrofina
nce.pdf

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 DISCUSSION:

The results of this report reveal that almost all of the predictor variables are
significantly associated with decision-making and most of these with
ownership. Furthermore, results indicate that women’s empowerment is
well predicted by demographic, economic, social, and information-exposure
factors. It was noted that women having higher education, living in urban
areas, and having access to information were more likely to be empowered.
Likewise, women belonging to older age group, being the head of
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 household, earning more than their husbands, involved in paid work,
belonging to the rich class, and having children, were more likely to be
empowered.
The results highlighted a significant association between a woman’s age and
her empowerment, i.e., women’s empowerment increased with increasing
age. These results are also supported by various other studies conducted in
South Asia, including Nepal, Bangladesh, and India. One of the reasons
identified for this trend in age and empowerment is attributed to power
relations within the household. In the case of Pakistan, marriages are
usually arranged at a young age – almost half of all women are married
before the age of 20 years. In this context, childbearing, particularly before
the age of 18 years, is detrimental to mother and child, due not only to
adverse reproductive health outcomes but also to social adjustments. These
women are mostly deprived of the opportunity to pursue other activities,
such as schooling or employment.

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 CONCLUSION:

This findings of the report provides useful insights into women’s

empowerment and its various determinants within Pakistan. The results
are drawn from a large, and hence generalisable, body of data, which
consistently predicts a significant association between the studied
demographic, economic, familial, and information-exposure factors, and
women’s empowerment. The results of the present study suggest the
importance of enforcing policies to restrict girl-child marriages, which
adversely affect girls’ reproductive health and social well-being. The
feminized poverty in Pakistan also needs to be alleviated through targeted
action, particularly in rural areas where women’s access to information,
employment, and inheritance is mostly denied. Women’s education and
employment are the areas identified as requiring gender-based equal
opportunities initiatives through a policy to enhance the socioeconomic
status of women and achieve development at the national scale. Therefore,
greater efforts are required to improve women’s access to employment and
educational opportunities. There is also an urgent need to use mass
communication and education campaigns to change community norms and
values that discriminate against women. These campaigns must convey the
potential contribution of women to the overall welfare of both their families
and the wider society.

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