FEMINIST MOVEMENT AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This current study investigates feminist movement and women empowerment in Pakistan through an analysis of 200 respondent aged 18 to 35 years, with diverse educational backgrounds through structured questionnaire. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was run to identify the key factors influencing these perceptions, including the importance of equal opportunities, urban-rural disparities, and the roles of feminism and women's rights organizations. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy was 0.633, and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity was significant (p = 0.0005), confirming the data's suitability for factor analysis. Moreover, “Intersectionality” Theory was applied in context of women empowerment and feminist movement. The findings reveal a prevalent recognition of gender disparities, with respondents acknowledging the under-representation of women, wage disparities between urban and rural areas, and the impact of patriarchal structures on women's opportunities. Additionally, there is widespread support for feminism as instrumental in promoting women empowerment, some respondents view feminism as a Western import.

Moreover, the study highlights the perceived importance of education in addressing gender inequalities and the positive role of women's organizations in implementing legislation Key findings indicate a strong consensus on the need for equal opportunities and significant recognition of geographical and societal differences in empowerment needs. However, limitations include potential sampling bias and reliance on self-reported data, which may affect the generalizability of the results. Further research is recommended to explore these factors in more diverse and longitudinal contexts.