Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022): Pakistan Journal of International Affairs
Articles

EFFECTS OF SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS ON POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN: A CASE STUDY OF BALOCHISTAN

Published 2022-05-29

Abstract

The key objectives of the present study were to examine the factors affecting women political empowerment in Balochistan. Due to patriarchal family system majority of the women in our society do not have right to decision making and choice even regarding their marriages. Throughout the glob one of the major priorities for the advancement is equal political participation of women. However in Pakistan women are living in dilemma of era’s ancient traditions that barricade their political empowerment. This study examines socio-cultural factors that deprive women from equal political rights and political participation. Keeping in view the liberal feminism approaches both qualitative and quantitative research method were used. Data were collected through a questionnaire which was analysis with “Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).” The universe of the study was Quetta city whereas the target population was 400 political activists from the main stream political parties. The findings of the study have been placed within the socio-cultural context of Pakistani Society and liberal feminism theory. The outcomes of the study indicate that women of the lower literacy rate and lower economic status were more deprived of their political participation and political rights. The study further indicates that equal political opportunities, women political representation and positive role of print and electronic media were recommended in order to improve women political empowerment in Balochistan.