LEVEL OF EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

Abstract

Objective: To Investigate the Level of Empowerment of Women in accordance with human rights. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Residence Colony of Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. Period: August - September 2007. Material & Methods: There were 600 houses and 6 Blocks A, B, C, D, E & F in the Colony. By Simple random sampling 10 houses were taken from each Block by drawing lots. Sixty married women’s between the age of 25 – 45 years (One from each house) were interviewed using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 37.2 years. Among the total 60 (100%) Women, 16 (26.6%) were illiterate, while 44 (73.3%) had primary education and above. Only 10(22.2%) out of 44 educated women had graduate and above degree. Thirty-Eight (63.3%) women had the opportunity to use the reproductive health services and family planning, while 22 (36.6%) could not utilize the family planning methods. A total of 40 (66.6%) women had good nutritional status, while 20 (33.3%) had imbalances in nutrition. Nineteen (31.6%) women were doing jobs in different public and private institutions, while 41(68.3%) had not got opportunity for jobs. Thirty-Three (55%) women had monthly income less
than Rs.10,000/- per month and 27(45%) had Rs.10,000/- and above. Forty (66.6%) women were given importance and active participation in decision making, in children marriages. house-hold and in political process (vote casting) at all levels, while 20(33.3%) were not given importance in decision making of above matters. Forty -Three (71.6%) woman were given their right of inheritance / property. Fourteen (23.3%)
women were forced to wear veil while going out of house. Forty (66.6%) woman admitted to have suffered from violence either psychological, physical or sexual in their life. Safe drinking water supply was available to 30 (50%) women, however sewage disposal, toilet facilities with in house were available to majority of the respondents. A total of 40 (66.6%) women were over all empowered. Conclusions: Women do have
human rights as well. The results obtained from this study are encouraging but not up to the standards of International Human rights Principles, which are universal, inalienable; indivisible; interdependent and interrelated.