Since the beginning, women have been playing an important role in the development of the society. Women are multi-taskers, they have to do their house-hold chores, upbring kids and feed their families, but still their role as a member of family, homemaker or a citizen has always been undermined. A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform. On one hand, our society considers women as the centre of life and on the other hand it has become a social norm to underestimate or degrade women’s ability. It is sad that women’s efforts are not given due recognition in our society.
However, time has changed now, people have started recognizing women’s efforts in developing the country. Today’s women are smart, confident and intelligent enough to stand by men in every field of life. When we talk about women empowerment, it doesn’t mean that we are talking about benefits of women only. Infact, women empowerment benefits men, women, youth, society and economy of country as well. Empowering women is like empowering the whole nation. Women empowerment means that they are free to take control of their lives, have equal rights as men and can have access to opportunities and resources.
Women employment is the key to empower women. In Pakistan, where women represent 49 percent of Pakistan’s total population, women participation in labour force overall is just 25 percent, it looks like a long way to go. Women’s low participation rate is result of their higher reproductive burden, mobility restrictions and lower educational achievement. The overall female literacy rate in Pakistan is 25 percent, which is not satisfying. More than 40 percent girls never go to school. Women of rural areas find it hard to get education as there is no separate schooling present in rural areas. It’s high time for Government to take some initiative about increasing the female literacy for the betterment of country.
Economic development of the country depends upon the female literacy and employment rate. It’s time to bring women to mainstream and provide them greater opportunities of employment in public and private sectors, and equipping them with vocational training and new techniques. Women must become active partners with men, if goal of women empowerment is desired to be achieved.
Faryal Ajmal
Department of Humanities,
COMSATS University,Vehari Campus.