By Maheena Zehra
We need to understand various matters in our society like that of Equality. Equality is not always about treating everyone the same it is about treating people in such a way that outcome this main putting things in place to support people out come when everyone is treating in the same way without giving any effect to their needs and requirements equality is a lifeline of the democratic society that aims to prevent discrimination and provide the ritual of a person it is to all for example equality between rich and poor equality between men and women etc.
Empowerment is a process that create power is individual over their own level societies in their communities’ empowerment include action of raising the status of women, education, raising Awareness Women’s empowerment is the process of empowering women. Empowerment can be defined in many ways, however, when talking about women’s empowerment, empowerment means accepting and allowing people who are on the outside of the decision-making process into it. Women empowerment is all about equipping and allowing women to make life determining decision to the different problems in society.
Empowerment into its objectives, including activities that promote women’s self-worth, right to determine their choices, access to opportunities and resources, right and power to control their lives – both within and outside the home – and ability to influence social change. However, these still remain outside of the grasp of women in Pakistan.Every woman has the right to exercise her reproductive rights and to be protected from violence and harmful practices in both the development and humanitarian contexts. means working with youth and communities to empower girls to understand their rights, work with policy-makers on creating and implementing policies that respond and protect the needs and rights of girls and women. It is also their right to make decisions when they are able to access the opportunities available to them without limitations. And for gender equality it refers to the right of women and women from equal opportunity as well as freedom from discrimination.
We can’t deny that Women are the integral part of society. As compare to men women plays an important role in the development of society. In muslim country like Pakistan, men play a vital role and mostly women are still lives at home and take care of the family, in big cities of Pakistan like Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad etc., women are well educated and playing a vital role in the development of society but in rural regions the women are dependent, even they don’t have a power to choose the decision of her own life. In rural areas of Pakistan people think that women education is not necessary and their concern is confined to homes only. Mostly women of rural areas are uneducated because their parent are also uneducated and the way of thinking is not wide, they think study is not right for women. The fewer families in rural areas also give the education to the girls but the people of villages criticize them.
To the contrary developed countries are progressing for their unbiased attitudes towards gender equality. They do not differentiate between girls and boys education. The women in development countries are enjoying the same status as opposite gender and lead every field of education. The women work hard and they also serve houses as well as perform a professional job. The daily routine of development countries women and the Kashmir’s women are very different, Kashmiri women spend whole day at home and the women in developed countries spend a day at office and as well as at home.
Quaid-e-Azam said “No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you; we are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners”.
Patriarchal men say no to education for women. Not only this, many women are also denied the opportunity for job and earn livelihood. Their occupational choices are limited due to social and cultural constraints and inherent gender bias in the labour market. They also lack supportive facilities such as childcare, transport and accommodation in the formal sector of the labour market. Women’s labour power is considered inferior because of employer’s predetermined notion of women’s primary role as homemakers. As a result of discrimination, their role is low paid and leads to lack of potential upward mobility.
However, the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) strongly emphasized on education by saying that, “It is the prime duty of men and women to acquire education”.
Islam is a comprehensive religion that gives women a great importance. However, the narrow-minded and biased religious scholars have always misinterpreted it to serve their wicked purposes. It amounts to neglect the real soul of Islam that gives women equality in every sphere of life.
Women can play a greater role if given an opportunity. They have greater potential to expel in larger field of activities. God has bestowed them with all capabilities and their role in any sphere whether it is social, economic, political, cultural or educational cannot be ignored. We need to utilize their talent in right place and admit their stake in country’s progress.
Maheena Zehra can be reached at maheenazehra313@gmail.com
