Discrimination Against Urban Women: A Case Study Of Karachi

Abstract

Gender inequality exists in Pakistan as a phenomenon that does not allow women equality of opportunity in the public and private sphere and also keeps women in very subjugated roles within the public and in private relationships. These factors can affect women’s access to education, employment, to career advancement and to their possibilities of holding positions of political power and roles of social and cultural esteem. Although gender equality may have progressed somewhat in the modern world but it is still an issue of great urgency in other parts of the world as well as in Pakistan, that is the focus of this study. This research investigates the types and consequences of gender discrimination that exist. The findings from the study suggest that the urban women in the sample of the present study still struggle for gender equality with men in Pakistan. The results show that in a number of areas, in both family and public life, they are still seen by many as second class citizens; and see their own autonomy and opportunities as limited. The social class of urban women in Pakistan is strongly related to their opportunities. Urban women from upper and middle class backgrounds enjoy more autonomy and equality in their lives as compare to women from poor backgrounds. These findings tend to support historical data in relation to women in Pakistan.