Determinants Of Social Exclusion: A Sociological Analysis Of Pakistani Women

Abstract

The current study, “Effects of Socio-cultural Exclusion and Community Level factors on Reproductive Health Behavior of Pakistani women” was predicated on the household survey. By using probability sampling, primary data for this study was collected from five villages and one urban community through administering individual and community level survey questionnaire. The data was gathered by interviewing 622 ever-married women in both rural and urban areas in Kasur and Lahore district respectively. The present research focuses on the socio-economic determinants of social exclusion of women living in rural and urban areas of Pakistan. It was assumed that social exclusion of women is prevalent and it’s predicated on dominant-subordination relationship of men and women. This relationship is assumed as commonly accepted amongst the various social strata of Pakistani society. A multitude of factors have come to play their respective roles in determining this dominant-subordination relationship that further anchors social exclusion of women from the mainstream social reconstruction program and regeneration of society on egalitarian determinants of power relations. Social exclusion can be measured through different benchmarks, it was measured by taking into account the level of participation of women in main socio-economic stream of life. Various indicators were identified to measure social exclusion of women namely: consultation in decision making process, political participation, participation in religious activities, and access to health services and right to cast votes during electioneering process.