How Social Taboos Hinder Women’s Empowerment

Muhammad Shakeel

Peshawar: Despite various reform initiatives and advocacy platforms, the socio-economic status of women in the province remains largely stagnant. Social limitations and deeply rooted taboos continue to impede the progress of women’s empowerment.

These societal constraints contribute to gender inequality and restrict women’s roles across various aspects of life, according to Khursheed Bano, Chief Executive Officer of “Da Hawwa Lur,” a women’s advocacy platform.

She highlights that Pakistan’s predominantly patriarchal society maintains a significant power imbalance, with men controlling both public and private decision-making processes. This dominance significantly restricts women’s participation in key decisions that impact their lives.

The concept of family honor often centers on women’s behavior and reputation, imposing immense pressure on them to conform to restrictive norms. This stifles their freedom to make personal choices and decisions.

Additionally, child and early marriages are prevalent in many rural areas, leading to the cessation of education for girls and limiting their personal and professional growth. Bano emphasizes that addressing these issues requires a fundamental shift in societal mindset.

Sadaf Syed, a lawyer, points to gender disparity in education as another critical issue, noting that societal attitudes often prioritize domestic roles over academic or professional achievements for girls. This creates a significant gap in educational opportunities.

In the male-dominated workforce, women face barriers such as discriminatory hiring practices, wage gaps, and limited career advancement opportunities, according to Saima Hanif.

Workplace harassment further discourages many women from pursuing or remaining in their careers. The lack of robust enforcement of harassment laws and the social stigma surrounding reporting such incidents exacerbate the problem.

Although Islamic law grants women the right to inherit property, many are denied their inheritance due to pressure from male relatives. Additionally, despite their right to vote and run for office, women’s representation in political offices remains low, limiting their influence on policy-making that affects their rights and empowerment.

Cultural taboos and stigma often prevent women from speaking out or seeking help, trapping them in abusive situations. Many, especially in rural areas, lack awareness of their legal rights and available resources, which limits their ability to challenge the status quo and seek empowerment, says Hanif.

Mashal Alam, KP CM Adviser for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, asserts that the empowerment of women is a cornerstone of the KP government’s policy.

She reports that a women’s policy has been approved and implemented, and legislation for the protection against harassment has been enacted. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women has been established to promote women’s rights in the province.

Alam emphasizes that the government is committed to gender equality and has increased stipends for girls from less developed districts under the “Stars of the KP” program to help bridge the gap between developed and underdeveloped areas.

The feature report is released by APP on August 25, 2024.