Gender discrimination in Pakistan

Gender discrimination has been a long and bumpy road to achieve

the amount of equality that we have today. Gender inequality is an
issue not only in Pakistan but also in the whole World. Gender
inequality is the state in which access to rights or opportunities is
affected by gender.in simple word if our world continues to carry out
gender inequality, women won’t have a voice to contribute to our
society and men will have the final choice and the freedom of
speech. Gender inequality is a very important issue common in our
world today that refers to unfair treatment or inequitable difference
between distinct groups of people in society in terms of rights,
opportunities and status. Gender parity at educational, economic,
political and representative fronts makes prosperity and change
inevitable. Regrettably, the gender gap in Pakistan is alarmingly
wider. It is the second worst country regarding gender equality in
the world. It is evident that with the exclusion of almost 100 million
women, Pakistan cannot reach the pinnacle of progress, peace and
stability. Government must chalk out effective strategies to bridge
the widening gender gap and inequalities through social, economic,
educational and democratic.

Gender inequalities have been around since the beginning

of time. Throughout the past few decades, the gender
inequality discourse have became a dominant feature of
international, national and local policy debate on the subject
of economic development. This policy concern has emerged
as an area of scholarly research which seeks to show that
improving gender equity leads to economic growth. Gender
Inequality in Australia: According to the data published by
Australian Bureau of Statistics in May 2015, the full time
average earnings of women is $284.20 or 17.9% less than
the full time average earnings for men, this figure is
calculated on the full time employees’ average weekly
ordinary time earnings. The gender pay gap has hovered
between 15% and 19% over the past two decades. The
gender pay gap is the different between average weekly full
time equivalent earnings of male and female, expressed as
a percentage of earnings of male.

It is widely believed that gender equality is pre-requisite for

building inclusive, progressive, peaceful and pluralistic
societies

It arises from differences in socially constructed gender roles

as well as biologically through chromosomes, brain
structure, and hormonal differences. Gender inequality
stems from distinctions, whether empirically grounded or
socially constructed. The only differences that men and
women behold is their appearance and some organs.
Women have 1 brain and 1 heart which is the same as men
but are still dehumanized.
It is widely believed that gender equality is pre-requisite for building inclusive, progressive,
peaceful and pluralistic societies. Gender discrimination refers to unfair treatment or inequitable
difference between distinct groups of people in society in terms of rights, opportunities and status. It goes
without saying that gender dis-crimination is a widespread human rights issue not only in Pakistan but also
in the whole word that is badly affecting huge proportion of women in the country as well as in the whole
Globe. Gender parity at educational, economic, political and representative fronts makes prosperity and
change inevitable. Regrettably, the gender gap in Pakistan is alarmingly wider. According to Global Gender
Gap Index Report 2018 released by World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistan has been placed 148 out of
149 countries -the second worst country regarding gender equality in the world. It is evident that with the
exclusion of almost 100 million women, Pakistan cannot reach the pinnacle of progress, peace and stability.
Government must chalk out effective strategies to bridge the widening gender gap and inequalities through
social, economic, educational and democratic.

Gender inequalities have been around since the beginning

of time
Women make up nearly half of total population (48.8 percent) which clearly means that they are the real
asset and strength of the country. Undoubtedly, Pakistan’s sustainable socio-economic, political and
cultural development wholly lies in the equality, empowerment, participation and representation of women
in all walks of life. Despite that the status of women is below par. More often than not, women encounter
multidimensional problems such as honour killing, acid throwing, harassment, sexual assaults, domestic
violence and so on. In addition, they witness greater inequality in access to health and education. Equal
economic opportunities, political inclusion and decision-making participation are merely a day dream for
large chunk of women in Pakistan.

It is widely believed that gender equality is pre-requisite for building inclusive, progressive, peaceful and
pluralistic societies. Gender parity at educational, economic, political and representative fronts makes
prosperity and change inevitable. Regrettably, the gender gap in Pakistan is alarmingly wider. According
to Global Gender Gap Index Report 2018 released by World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistan has been
placed 148 out of 149 countries -the second worst country regarding gender equality in the world.

There is no denying that the status of women in health, education and participation especially in labour
market and politics is also unsatisfactory. Reportedly, only 25 percent women are involved in the
workforce, far less than the world average (48.7).

When it comes to financial autonomy, according to World Bank Global Index Report 2017, only 7 percent
of women in the country have financial services account.

Gender inequality is a deep-rooted menace in Pakistan that is potentially hampering its socio-economic
advancement and progress. Men are the masters of women’s destiny in the country where women are
denied all decision-making powers. Cultural norms and a patriarchal mind-set are the primary factors that
are derailing women from coming out of four walls to play their part. That’s why women are always behind
bars and unable to stand shoulder by shoulder with men. Women who live in poor households - battle
grave economic obstacles ranging from poor infrastructure to inadequate transportation facilities, financial
constraints to inadequate nutrition and extreme water shortages to poor sanitation.

It is evident that with the exclusion of almost 100 million women, Pakistan cannot reach the pinnacle of
progress, peace and stability. Muhammad Ali Jinnah famously said, “No Nation can rise to the heights of
glory unless her women stand side by side with men.” Therefore, there is dire need to ensure that half of
Pakistan’s has equal opportunities in political leadership, economic decision-making and managerial
representation. Government must chalk out effective strategies to bridge the widening gender gap and
inequalities through social, economic, educational and democratic participation and partnership of
women.

Furthermore, women financial empowerment is also crucial for closing the gender gap. Equitable financial
access will not only foster women's bargaining power within the household but will also help improve their
health, education, nutrition and food security status. In addition, state should strive to eliminate all forms
of discrimination and violence against women. Most importantly, the government should work round the
clock to empower women through education so that they can be active economic actors in the realm of
socio-political development of Pakistan.

“Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is
not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture.”
― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, We Should All Be Feminists

“All through life there were distinctions - toilets for men, toilets for women; clothes for men, clothes
for women - then, at the end, the graves are identical.”
― Leila Aboulela, Minaret
“There is no such thing as a woman who doesn’t work. There is only a woman who isn’t paid for her
work.”
― Caroline Criado-Perez, Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
“Why does a society have one set of rules for men and another set of rules for women? Every society
must have the same set of rules for both men and women to follow. Only then can the society become
a progressive one.”
― Avijeet Das

“Women empowerment begins at home!”

― Alex Haditaghi
“Real men are advocates for women's rights.”
― Basia Christ

“absolute equality not possible . what is possible ,we can honour the qualities in each person .that
would reduce this gap”
― litymunshi