Political Reforms and Women s Economic Empowerment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

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1 Political Reforms and Women s Economic Empowerment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan MUHAMMAD BILAL Lecturer, Department of Sociology (Main Campus) Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Pakistan Bilal@awkum.edu.pk MUHAMMAD TUFAIL Assistant Professor, Institute of Business Studies and Leadership Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan tufail@awkum.edu.pk DR. SAEED AHMAD Assistant Professor, Government Degree College No: 2 Mardan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saeed.sani81@gmail.com BAKHTIAR ALI KHAN PhD Scholar, Department of Political Science University of Peshawar Abstract This study investigates the effect of political reforms on women s economic empowerment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. Although the KP province is considered of patriarchal nature where the socio-cultural structures are much closed in terms of women empowerment but this study mainly focuses the effect of some specific reforms (brought for women empowerment) on economic aspect of women empowerment. The study carries two main objectives 1) to examine the knowledge of women s political activists regarding political reforms and 2) to assess effect of the political reforms on women s economic empowerment. Data for the study comes from Tehsile Mardan and Swabi of Mardan division, KP Pakistan. Using simple random sampling, data was collected from 400 respondents. Interview schedule was used for data collection. Economic empowerment of women was measured through women paid work, women control over income, women contribution in family, women access to family resources and women assets and land. The study findings suggest that some minor effect of the political reforms (i.e. increase of women quota in jobs and protection to women from work place harassment) was observed, however, women in the area still needs measures for their economic independence. Key Words: Political reforms, Anti Harassment Bill, Women s Paid Work and Economic Empowerment of Women. Bilal, Tufail, Ahmad & Khan 95 ISSN:

2 1. Introduction Women empowerment in the modern discourse is considered as rising, difficult and multi-dimensional idea (Hassan, 2014). Research scholars, policy makers and other stakeholders of the development phenomenon understand that women population must be considered seriously if a nation to be developed because they constitute half of the world s population almost. Women empowerment in all respects i.e. legal, political, social etc is important for strengthening a nation, however, their economic empowerment across the globe is of utmost significance and Pakistan is no exception in this realm. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah agued (see Asma, 2009); 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 crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live. You should take your women along with you as comrades in every sphere of life. Empowering women in all spheres of life is significant but their economic empowerment is paramount because economics stands as central determinant in developing an individual s social location. Henslin in 2011 argues that social location is the group memberships that people have because of their location in history and society. The belief regarding social construction of gender is common (see Ullah, 2012). For the social construction of gender, social location is important to be placed gender socialization on and economics plays a key role in developing an individual s social location. If this belief is cemented that economics occupies central role in an individual s social location then women must be empowered economically in order to strengthen their lives in all other spheres of life. 2. Literature Review Pakistan as South East Asian country is labeled as patriarchal system society (Caldwell, 1982) where men are the main earning sources for their families and this phenomenon has been superseded women and revealed men s domination over women (Kandiyoti, 1988). The dominant role of men over women is socially and culturally structured in Pakistan (see Naz, 2011) and it clear that from the studies that weak economic status of women is the major cause of their subordination. Women s empowerment is mainly based on their economic position in which their paid labor is an important element. Allowing women for paid labor is the sole responsibility of their families in which cultural and social forces over family are the key hindrances (Tabassum et al, 2013). Empowering women is the responsibility of both the genders (men and women) as CIDA in 2010 declares that; Empowerment is about people both women and men-taking control over their lives: setting their own agendas, gaining skills, building self-confidence, solving problems, and developing self-reliance, it is not only a collective, social and political process, but an individual one as well and it is not only a process but an outcome The instrumental definition of women s empowerment understands that it is a capital for family, society and for the nation at large (Hassan, 2014). In modern sociological debate capital is defined as the accumulated goods devoted to the production of other goods. Nevertheless, dividing capital into four types (economic, Bilal, Tufail, Ahmad & Khan 96 ISSN:

3 social, symbolic and cultural) the central role is given to economic capital (Allan, 2007). Taking women empowerment in the context of capital to the country/nation, women s economic empowerment is the significant contributing capital to the development of a nation. Considering women as one of the important contributing capitals to national development, the government of Pakistan attempted to empower women in the social, legal, political, including economic domains of life. This attempt is revealed in the shape of the following political reforms, brought for women s empowerment. 2.1Anti Women s Harassment Legislation Giving social protection to women in the public domain, the government of Pakistan has made a law with the title of anti women s harassment bill (The Dawn, April 11, 2014). This reform is brought for women protection in the public domain(s) to give them a secure feeling during their paid labor at the market. This reform was fetched with the objective to socially protect women during performing their job(s) easily and having an independent economic life. If women are really become economically independent then their overall life s capital be a sound contributing factor to the national economy. 2.2 Increase in Women Quota in Central Superior Services (CSS) Examination at National Level Considering women s paid services and exploring them to the public sphere, the government of Pakistan has increased number of seats for women up to 10% in each group of CSS examination. This reform was brought in 2006 and was implemented respectively (FPSC, 2006). This reform was brought mainly to empower women economically and take their paid services in the market. However, this reform is not justified for all of the women to be empowered because only few percent of the women could become beneficiary of the said reform and has no effect over the empowerment of overall women population of the country. a. Increase in Women Quota in Provincial Management Services (PMS) Examination at KP In the provincial management services (PMS) examination at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, women seats were increased up to 10% in each PMS examination taken by KP s public service commission (KPPSC, 2016). The understanding behind this reform was to give an extra space to qualified women at the KP province to be practically involved in the management/administration of the different districts and civil secretariat level as well. This reform was also not fruitful for the general women s economic empowerment because only nominal number of women at KP province achieves higher education and could come to the position to attempt PMS examination. Bilal, Tufail, Ahmad & Khan 97 ISSN:

4 2.1 Conceptual Model of the Study Conceptual Model of the Study Age Family Type Place of birth Education Marital Status Political Reforms Anti Women s Harassment Bill Increase in women quota in CSS examination at national Level Increase in women quota in PMS examination at KP Level Women s Economic Empowerment Women s Paid Work Women s Control Over Income Women Contribution in Family Women Access to Family Resources 3. Study Rational This key focus of this paper is to analyze the impact of some particular political reforms on women s economic empowerment. This study analysis knowledge of women political activists about political changes brought for their empowerment. Nevertheless, it specifically focuses on women economic empowerment affected by the said reforms. Thus, in this study, economic empowerment of women is determined by women s paid work, women contribution in family support, women access to resources, and women control over resources. 3.1 Methodology and Data Presentation Data comes for this study from two Tehsils of Mardan division i.e. Mardan and Swabi. 400 respondents were contacted for data collection. Using stratified sampling technique, 211 respondents were selected from Tehsil Mardan while 189 respondents were selected from Tehsil Swabi. Population of Tehsil Mardan was more than Swabi that s why more number of the respondents was selected from Tehsil Mardan (See below table). Tehsil Sawabi Women Political Activists in Tehsil Sawabi/ Total Political Activists * Sample size Tehsil Swabi n = 1410/ 2980*400 = 189 Tehsil Mardan Women Political Activists in Tehsil Mardan/Total Political Activists* Sample size Tehsil Mardan n = 1570 /2980*400 = 211 Total Sample size = 400 The selection of the individual respondents was made through purposive sampling. Using interview schedule, data was collected from women s political activists only. The univariat analysis of the variables was done by descriptive statistics (i.e. frequency and percentage). Bivariate analysis between women knowledge about the political reforms and their economic empowerment was done by inferential statistics (i.e. t-test). Bilal, Tufail, Ahmad & Khan 98 ISSN:

5 Table 1: Division of the respondents by Place, Age, Marital Status, Family structure, and Education (N=400) Statement Frequency Percent Statement Frequency Percent Respondent s Residence Tehsil Respondent s Family Structure Mardan Nuclear Family Swabi Joint Family Extended Family 8 2 Age of the Respondents (Years) Respondent s Education (Schooling Completed Years) Illiterate Matric Intermediate Bachelor Above Master and above Respondent s Marital Status Single Married Divorced/Widowed 8 2 In table 1 respondent s social features are presented. This study selected 400 respondents (i.e. 211 (52.7 percent) from Tehsil Mardan and 189 (47.3 percent) from swabi) of Mardan Division, KP Pakistan. Similarly, table reveals age of the respondents in which 52.5 percent were taken from age group years, 22.7 percent from age cluster years, 19.7 percent from age group years, and the last five percent portion of the respondents were selected from age cluster 46 years and above. Respondent s minimum age was 16 years and maximum was 70 years. From age group 26-35, majority of the respondents were taken. 64 percent married respondents, 34 percent single, and only two percent widowed respondents were chosen for the study. Table also reveals family structure of the respondents in which 57 percent of the respondents were living in nuclear family, 41 percent in joint family and only two percent were living in extended families. Table concludes that major portion of the respondents i.e. 57 percent were living in nuclear family setup. Moreover, table exhibits literacy level of the respondents in which 37 percents respondents had done Bachelors, 19 percent had secured Matric qualification, 19 percent were Intermediate, 19 percent had Master and Bilal, Tufail, Ahmad & Khan 99 ISSN:

6 above master level education and only six percent respondents were illiterate. Table concludes that 37 percent of the respondents had done bachelor which comes in majority. Table 2: Respondents Opinions about Political Reforms and their Economic Empowerment Statement Frequency Percent Statement Frequency Percent Women can join paid work outside home Women have control over income Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Agree Agree Uncertain Uncertain Disagree Disagree 16 4 Strongly Disagree 1.3 Strongly Disagree 2.5 Women have contribution in family support Women have access to family resources Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Agree Agree Uncertain Uncertain Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree Women can own the assets and land Strongly Disagree Agree Uncertain Disagree Strongly Disagree 12 3 About the statement i.e. women can join paid work outside the home; the table reveals that 64.8% of the respondents have agreed with the statement, 18% respondents have strongly agreed 10% respondents were uncertain, 6.8% have disagreed with the statement, and only 0.3% respondents have disagreed that women can join paid work outside the home. Information in the table concludes that dominant portion of the respondents (64.8%) agreed that women can join paid work outside the home. Table further demonstrates the respondent s opinions regarding the statement that women have control over income which explains that 56.8% of the respondents agreed with the Bilal, Tufail, Ahmad & Khan 100 ISSN:

7 statement, 28% respondent strongly agreed, 10.8% remained uncertain, 4% percent disagreed, and 0.5% have strongly disagreed with the statement that women have control over income. Thus the data clearly finds that in majority (56.8%) the respondents agreed that women have control over income. ata in the table further indicates that 53.3% respondents have agreed that women are contributing to support their family, 38.5% respondents strongly agreed, 4.8% remained uncertain, and only 3.5% respondents stood strongly disagreed that women are contributing to support their family. Thus data in the table concludes that most of the respondents (53.3%) agreed that women have contribution in order to support their family. About the statement women have access to family resources table shows that 55.8% of the respondents were agreed with the statement, 25% respondents strongly agreed, 12.8% respondents remained uncertain, 6.3% respondents have disagreed, and only nominal portion of the respondents i.e. 0.3% strongly disagreed with the statement. So the information clearly indicates that 55.8% of the respondents make majority while saying that women have the access to family resources. Table also reveals information about women can own the assets and land in which 47.3% have the opinion agreed, 20.3% respondents stood undecided, 17.8% strongly agreed, 11.8% respondents have disagreement, and the last 3% respondents have strong disagreement that women can have the land and assets. As a result table concludes that dominant portion of the respondents (47.3%) has agreement upon the statement that women can own the land and assists. Table 3: Independent sample t-test statistics between Knowledge about Political Reforms and Women s Economic Empowerment Knowledge about Administrative Reforms Women Quota in PMS Exam Mean St. Dev Confidence Interval Yes No t-value ** An increase in Women Quota of CSS Exam Yes No * t-value Note: (ns) mean not significant P<0.001 ***, P<0.01 **, P<0.05 * The table shows the results of t-test between the knowledge of the respondents regarding the political reforms (i.e. women quota in PMS and CSS examinations) and their economic empowerment. Results show that mean (Mean=10.32, S.D=3.018) was higher of those respondents who had knowledge regarding the incensement of seats for women in the PMS examination. Therefore, Significant mean difference were observed between the two groups of the respondents (i.e. have knowledge and don t have Bilal, Tufail, Ahmad & Khan 101 ISSN:

8 knowledge about the quota in PMS examination). Women with the knowledge regarding the reforms were involved more in strengthening their economic status as compare to those who don t have knowledge about the increase of women seats in the Provincial Management Services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission. Moreover, the table also mentions mean difference between the two groups (i.e. women with knowledge regarding the increase of women seats in CSS examination and women with no knowledge). Thus the results conclude that mean of the respondents having knowledge about the said reforms was high (Mean=10.28, S.D=2.765) in comparison to those women who had no knowledge regarding the aforementioned reforms. The information clearly recorded significant mean difference between the two groups of women (i.e. women with knowledge regarding the increase of women seats in CSS examination and women with no knowledge) while being struggling for getting jobs and their economic independence in the society. 4. Key Findings of the Study Awareness of Women about Anti Women s Harassment Bill Women knowledge regarding their Quota in CSS Examination Information of Women about their Quota in PMS Examination Political Reforms and Women s Economic Empowerment 4.1 Awareness of Women about Anti Women s Harassment Bill The study finds that most of the women in the study area were aware about the anti women s harassment legislation. Women were feeling social security in workplace and they were confidently performing their duties at public/private sphere(s). 4.2Women knowledge Regarding their Quota in CSS Examination Besides, this study also finds some fruitful information about women s knowledge about their quota in CSS examination. Very little number of women were aware about their seats in the said examination but interestingly those who were aware they were struggling for being the candidates of the CSS examination. 4.3 Information of Women about their Quota in PMS Examination Likewise, the study investigates that more number of the women in the study area were not aware about their seats in the PMS examination. The basic reason behind this was their low literacy ration. Women education was not found of that level which is criteria for the said examination. 4.4 Political Reforms and Women s Economic Empowerment This study found an interesting dynamic in the way of women s economic empowerment. Women with the knowledge about the different kind of reforms, brought for their empowerment, were looking more inclined towards their economic empowerment. Mostly, women were allowed for paid work, they were allowed to have control over income, they had contribution in family support, women had access to resources, and they were even allowed to own the assets and land. 5. Conclusion This paper has examined the effects of the political reforms on women s economic empowerment in KP. Findings of the study suggest that mostly women were aware about the anti women s harassment bill; however, knowledge of the women regarding their quota in CSS and PMS examinations was not enough. Besides, the study interestingly finds that women with some knowledge regarding anti harassment bill were Bilal, Tufail, Ahmad & Khan 102 ISSN:

9 confidently working in the public/private sphere and were struggling for their economic independence. Similarly, women with the awareness regarding their quota in the CSS were also thinking and even preparing themselves for the said examination to come and hold public chairs in order to be economically independent in the family and society at large. Likewise, women were also struggling for PMS examination after knowing about their seats in the said examination. However, the effect of the political reforms (which is required and expected) on women s economic empowerment is not revealed as the education ratio of the respondents was very low and they had no other societal exposure at large. References Allan, K. (2007). Social Lense: An Investigation to Social and Sociological Theory. Sage Publication Shami, A. A. (2009). Political Empowerment of Women in Pakistan. Pakistan Vision, 10(1), Caldwell, J. (1982). Theory of Fertility Decline, Academic Press, London. Canadian International Development Agency (2010). Gender Equality Policy and Tools: CIDA Policy on Gender Equality, Canadian International Development Agency, Canada. Collins, P. H. (1998). Fighting words: Black women and the search for justice, Vol. 7, University of Minnesota Press. Hassan, S. M. (2014). Need Assessment of Home Based Women Workers: A New Paradigm For Social Work. Science International, 26(3). Henslin, J. M., Possamai, A. M., Possamai-Inesedy, A. L., Marjoribanks, T., & Elder, K. (2015). Sociology: A down to earth approach. Pearson Higher Education AU. Kandiyoti, D. (1988). Journal of Educational Research, Gender and Society, vol. 2(3), pp Legislative Watch- Volume- 1- No by Aurat Foundation Legislative Watch- Women and Elections 2008, by Aurat Foundation. Munir, A., & Akhtar, N. (2014). A Social Custom Vani : Introduction And Critical Analysis. VFAST Transactions on Education and Social Sciences, 3(2). Naz, A., & Ahmad, W. (2012). Socio-cultural impediments to women political empowerment in Pakhtun society. Academic Research International, 3(1), 163.No. 1, July 2012 Naz, A., Rehman, H., & Alam, A. (2011). Gender and Development: Socio-Cultural, Economic, Religious and Political Impediments in Women s Empowerment and Development (A Case Study of Malakand Division KPK, Pakistan). Peshawar University Teachers Association Journal (PUTAJ), ISSN X. Vol P. 45. Reyes Syed, N. T., Tabassum, H., & Afzal, T. (2013). Women's political participation and the laws to protect women in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Women's Studies= Alam-e-Niswan= Alam-i Nisvan, 20(2), 99. Scheuer, C. L., & Mills, A. J. (2016). Discursivity and media constructions of the intern: Implications for pedagogy and practice. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 15(3), Bilal, Tufail, Ahmad & Khan 103 ISSN:

10 Thakur, S. G., Arnold, C., & Johnson, T. (2009). Gender and social protection. Unclassified DCD/DAC (2009) 15/ADD, 113. The Dawn News Paper, published on April 11, Ullah, H. (2012). Male hegemony through education: Construction of gendered identities. Multidisciplinary Journal of Gender Studies, 1(3), Website Federal Public Service Commission ( November 13, 2016 Website Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission ( January 21, 2016 Bilal, Tufail, Ahmad & Khan 104 ISSN:

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PHD THESIS Community Participation in the Sustainability of Developmental Programs: A Case Study of NRSP in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan SAJJAD HUSSAIN Contact Work: Lecturer Department of Social Work University of Malakand Chakdara Dir Lower Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan Cell: +92-3459346877 Phone Office:+92-945-9250505-03 (Ext: 3023,3048)