Lack Of Enabling Environment Hinders Women’s Representation

News Desk

Karachi: Women’s representation in their respective fields is augmenting but many realms remain male-dominated. This is not because of a lack of female representation but rather a lack of enabling environments, according to experts.

Research Education & Development (R.E.D) International conducted a panel discussion under its “Her Own Campaign’ on March 7 at National Incubation Center, Karachi. Her Own Way is an attempt to make opportunities more accessible for our females and what else can be done to facilitate them.

R.E.D International Executive Director Bismah Mirza moderated the discussion which revolved around answering the questions regarding what is equity, when and where we need it, and what is equality? The panel talked about women’s representation in their respective fields and the need to have mentors.

Barrister Javeriah Nauman said that you may find females being legal counsels but they don’t operate in courts. She believed that change is coming as when she started working, hardly there were any women entering tech fields despite engineering classes are filled with females.

Founder National Dialogue on Climate Change Maliha Zaidi said that due to females opting for traditional professions, her field has a lot of potential for females.

Talking about equity, Barrister Javeriah explained that equity is bringing everyone to par before providing equal opportunities. “We can’t create equality, if we don’t understand the need of everyone,” she added.

CaterpillHERs Co-founder Faiza Yousuf stated that women’s mentoring is the need of the hour, and she shared her initiatives of code girls and CaterpillHERs, where women are provided guidance to navigate in tech environment.

“Rather chasing roles models, work on yourself,” said Parindey Founder Sonal Dhanani.

Senior Journalist Professor Shahida Kazi said that her life’s principle was to always remain positive and throw out the negatives. She advised women to do so and do their work with utmost honesty.

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) Former President Abdul Rahim Suriya shared how he used his power in encouraging women to form a committee at ICAP rather than abusing it. He told that today it has become a committee and they have a separate body called Chartered Accountant (CA) women.

Research Education & Development (R.E.D) International is a non-governmental, not for profit organization which works on the development youth, women and marginalized segments of the society.