myth of media

Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences (PJSS)
Vol. 32, No. 1 (2012), pp.171-183

Women Empowerment in Pakistan with Special Reference to
Islamic Viewpoint: An Empirical Study
Imran Sharif Chaudhry
Professor & Chairman, Department of Economics
Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
E-mail: [e-mail]

Farhana Nosheen
PhD Scholar, Department of Economics,
Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan
E-mail: [e-mail]

Muhammad Idrees Lodhi
Assistant Professor
Department of Islamic Studies
Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

Abstract
Women empowerment is one of the most debatable issues in the development circles now-a-days. Pakistan being a democratic and an
Islamic state, the issue of women empowerment faces new challenges.
Considering its multidimensional nature and to give an empirical aspect to this study, an index is developed about the knowledge of true
Islamic teachings and values. In this paper, an attempt is made to remove the miss-conception that ‘Islam’ as a religion hinders the way of women empowerment, using regression analysis based on the primary data from a district of Southern Punjab. The results show that
Islamic concept of women empowerment strengthened by the women’s education, education of her household members, access to media, health facilities, less no of household members along with no fear of violence. Finally, it is concluded that Islam as a religion ensures maximum women’s rights. It is our typical social norms, old traditions imported from other religions and ignorance from the true teachings of
Islam, which has made today’s women vulnerable.
Keywords:

Empowerment; Muslim Women; Islam; Gender Empowerment; Southern
Punjab; Pakistan

I. Introduction
The term ‘women empowerment’ has now become most debatable issue in the development field. It is vividly recognized that women empowerment is essential for sustainable economic growth and reduction in poverty

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