Raza, F. (2007). Reasons for the Lack of Women’s Participation in Pakistan’s Workforce. Journal Of Middle East Women’s Studies, 3(3), 99-102.

After re-reading this article, I was grappling with these questions: Do we really need laws to bring equality in society? Why doesn’t their existence mean that we have achieved equality? When do laws fail to play a fair role? I think that passing laws is just the beginning step, but implementing it is another feat in itself. That is because implementing laws need a wave of change in the overall attitudes of people towards women, in general, and especially towards women who have been raped or sexually assaulted. After watching the documentary titled Outlawed in Pakistan, I realized that although repealing restrictive laws like the Hudood Ordinances is relieving, the prejudice still exists and is reflected in the sort of outcomes that young women like Soomro face today.

Raza states that according to the Constitution of Pakistan, which was ratified in 1973, women are equal citizens. However, gender inequality is widespread and lack of women’s role in Pakistan’s economy is dismal. He elaborates on the government’s efforts to create committees such as Commission on Marriage and Family Laws (1955), Women’s Rights Committee (1976), Commission of Inquiry for Women (1977), and Pakistan Commission on the Status of Women (1985). Although they have been founded to address gender imbalances, Raza notes that the government’s initiative to tackle problem of gender inequality by increasing reserved parliament seats for women provides a temporary solution. In 2001, Pakistan’s government reserved 33% of seats in local bodies and 17% of seats in nationals and provincial assemblies for women. With less than 10% of women working, the rationale for increasing the number of reserved seats was clear: (1) to deter underemployment of women in government offices and (2) to increase their participation in political decision-making. However, reasons for underemployment arises from factors such as gender-specific roles in society, lack of safety using public transportation, inadequate education or vocational training, and workplace harassment. Raza mentions that human rights report indicate that women in secretarial jobs and semi-skilled or unskilled employments face sexual harassment. (He does not give specific numbers.)