Ghazi 1

Muhammad Ghazi Malik

Farheen Saeed

WRCM 101 Section (B)

261910581

Argument Analysis Paper

Gender Discrimination in Pakistan

Introduction:

In Pakistan, gender discrimination is a significant problem. Due to

disempowerment and a lack of resources, Pakistan's workforce participation rate for women is

extremely low. This paper focuses on the obstacles and problems that prevent women from

working, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of women's disempowerment. I've taken two op-

ed articles on this topic to argue the claim that people make on Gender Discrimination.

"Gender Discrimination and Poverty" (Article A) was authored by Mehmil Khalid

and published by Daily Times dated December 11, 2021. She claimed that in order to decrease

poverty in Pakistan and ensure the financial stability of their families, women should be

permitted to work and earn alongside men. This claim is supported by a number of warrants.

First off, women who are employed and have access to resources like money and revenue can

take care of their families' needs and generate income much more effectively than men. Second,

poverty increases and economic performance declines when a home only has one wage worker
and women are not allowed to work for themselves. Thirdly, women who are financially secure

are more likely to support their children's education and health as well as their own careers and

education. In such circumstances, there will be higher levels of child nutrition, higher rates of

female education, and higher rates of school enrolment. She backed up her claim with studies

showing a strong correlation between gender inequality and economic disparity. It has been

demonstrated that families with just men working to support the family are poorer than those

with equally contributing men and women. Over two million people will be living in poverty by

2020, according to the World Bank, pushing poverty rates beyond 5%. Pakistan's poverty rate is

expected to increase from 4.4 percent to 5.4 percent by 2020, according to the World Bank. The

developed nations of the globe have worked to promote gender equality by eliminating

discrimination and giving women the same opportunities as men. Experts have noted that

countries that stress gender equality as a crucial aspect of development tend to have better

income levels, and many instances have shown that establishing gender equality has led to a

decrease in poverty. Recognizing the strong connection between gender equality and poverty, the

UN has set a goal for all nations to achieve gender equality by 2030.

"Women and Work" (Article b), was authored by Dure Sameen

Akhund and published by Dawn dated December 22, 2021. She claimed that women in Pakistan

participate very poorly in the employment market and have a very small number of real

economic options. This claim is supported by a number of factors. First off, women's traditional

role as "housewives" restricts their ability to enter the workforce. Second, the need for flexible
hours and the availability of reasonably priced childcare are given little to no consideration. Men

are seen as the family's head, providing housing, security, and money for household needs, but

women are seen as housewives who take care of the home and children, which results in fewer

economic opportunities for women. Thirdly, a variety of factors, including as societal and

cultural standards, patriarchal social structures, a dearth of chances, and a lack of high-quality

education, contribute to women's low involvement. Although women make up over half of the

population in Pakistan, their representation in the workforce is far lower than that of other

nations, which she used as evidence to back her claim. A significant number of women in urban

areas have lost their value due to a strict work ethic and a lack of access to basic, high-quality

childcare, wasting their high-quality education and forcing them out of the job market. With only

56 percent of the gender gap bridged, Pakistan is rated third from the bottom in the 2020 Global

Gender Gap Report. According to the Global Gender Gap Index 2020, Pakistan's poor

performance is mostly related to women's low involvement in income, which represents only

18% of the nation's overall revenue. Women make up only 22.7% of the workforce in Pakistan,

according to estimates, and the bulk of them work as domestic workers or unpaid employees for

minimal wages under illegal working conditions. Education is significantly impacted by

industrialization, gender inequality, and economic distress.

According to my point of view the claims provided by Kunwar in article (A) are

completely accurate. I agree with this claim for a variety of reasons. First, as more women work,

economies grow. Among other positive development effects, the economic empowerment of
women boosts productivity, diversifies the economy, and increases income equality. Second,

businesses benefit when women have economic equality. Expanding women's employment and

leadership opportunities benefits businesses greatly and has been shown to improve workplace

performance and growth. Companies with three or more women in top management roles are

thought to perform better across the board. Many experts have observed that countries that

highlight gender equality as a crucial aspect of development have higher income levels, and

many regions have shown that establishing gender equality has helped to the decrease of poverty.

The UN has set a target for all countries to advance gender equality by 2030, acknowledging the

strong correlation between poverty and gender equality. Since women make up roughly half of

the population, we can increase the wealth of our nation if we choose to tap into their potential

by showcasing their talents and appreciating their efforts rather than continuing with the current

system. When women are allowed to engage freely and without fear of punishment, poverty may

be reduced most effectively. It is now essential to combat patriarchal norms of conduct if women

are to defend their rights and abolish gender inequality.

References

Kunwar, Mehmil Khalid “Gender Discrimination and Poverty” Daily Times, 2021.

https://dailytimes.com.pk/853219/gender-discrimination-and-poverty/

Akhund, Dure Sameen “Women and Work” Dawn, 2021.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1665131

Research Paper:

“Facts and Figures: Economic Empowerment.” UN Women  Headquarters,

www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/economic-empowerment/facts-and-figures#:%7E:text=Wom
en%E2%80%99s%20economic%20empowerment%20boosts%20productivity%2C%20increases
%20economic%20diversification,addition%20to%20other%20positive%20development%20outc
omes.%20%5B%202%5D. Accessed 1 June 2022.

Gender Inequality in Pakistan: An Assessment by Qurat-ul-ain Rana, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali
Tarar, and Prof. Dr. Rana Saba Sultan.

https://pssr.org.pk/issues/v6/2/gender-inequality-in-pakistan-an-assessment.pdf