By Dr. Umer Khalid
Women’s autonomy in Pakistan regarding education, marriage, employment, and mobility is shaped by a combination of socio-cultural norms, economic conditions, and family influence.
Based on the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLM) 1998-99 & 2018-19, decision-making patterns reveal that while some progress has been made, traditional structures still play a dominant role.
Key factors influencing women’s autonomy are mentioned in the below tables:
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Who decides if a woman can study?
From 1998 to 2019, the role of women in deciding their own education declined from 13.48% to 10.87%. However, joint decision-making between parents has doubled.
Who decides if a woman can work?
Between 1998 and 2019, the percentage of fathers making sole employment decisions dropped from 62.61% to 41.99%, while joint decision-making rose significantly.
Women deciding for themselves, still low at just 11.34% in 2019.
Why Women in Pakistan Are Not Seeking Jobs
A significant drop in women being restricted by family from working (44.39% to 29.77%). But here’s the catch: The number of women who are “too busy doing domestic work” jumped from 27.16% to 45.72%.
Who Decides When and Whom a Woman Marries?
Women making their own marriage decisions dropped to 1.59% in 2019. However, joint decision-making between parents rose from 28.46% to 40.51%.
Who Decides on Birth Control?
The power dynamic in reproductive decisions is shifting. Husbands deciding alone dropped from 26.5% to 9.33%. However. Husband & wife deciding together surged to 64.28%
Who Decides on Having More Children?
Husband & wife making joint decisions jumped from 44.33% to 61.45%. “It’s in God’s hands” belief declined from 20.42% to 15.44%.
Who Decides What’s on the Dinner Table?
Women’s role in household food purchases remains almost the same (34.82% → 32.24%), but fathers making these decisions alone dropped by 16.63%, showing a shift towards joint decision-making.
Who Decides What Women Wear?
Women deciding what they wear increased from 32.07% to 35.74%. Men making this choice alone Dropped by 24.03%. More involvement of women in their own choices, but still room for progress.
Who Decides on Medical Treatment?
The percentage of fathers deciding alone on women’s medical treatment dropped from 46.65% to 17.79%. Women’s say Still low at 11.52% but improving.
Who Decides on Women’s Recreation and Travel?
Father deciding alone dropped from 50.58% to 19.47%. Joint discussions between spouses increased to 35.45%. Women deciding for themselves still only 8.49%.
Share your thoughts on this shift…..