INTRODUCTION

Sex remains the major sorting factor in most of the world’s societies. It is common that male are paid more for the same work and they usually dominate the socio-cultural, economic and political aspects of the society. In contrast, females are discriminated against economically, politically and socially (Henslin, 1996:315). Gender equality does not necessarily mean equal numbers of men and women or girls and boys in all activities, nor does it mean treating them in the same way. It means equality of opportunity and a society in which women and men are able to lead equally fulfilling lives (Henshall, 2004:8). Women empowerment focuses on the issue that male and female have different needs and priorities and still they face different constraints and challenges. The absence of any one among the two, i.e, male or female in the development process is the lose of a great human potential and that ultimately effect national development.

Women empowerment is a compulsory element and a pre-request both for communal and national development because female constitutes almost half of the population. Especially in Third World in general and in a country like Pakistan, women have been discriminated both economically and politically. The patriarchic and male dominated nature of the Pakistani society is providing more economic and political power to male in strata. Power, which to Weber (1904) is the ability to achieve desired ends despite possible resistance from others, is in the hands of the male members. Force of any kind, may be psychological or physical, become the source for power in any society. However, the nature of the power and authority depends on the cultural set-up that how people perceive both. Same is the situation of the Pakistani society in general and that of the Pakhtoon society in particular. The power and economic resources are mainly controlled by male members. The position of women in this regard is secondary and they could not have any say in the economic and political affairs because they have no power in the decision making. Property, economic hold and money provide direction to the economic and political activities of the area. Party affiliations are also link with such values. Individuals with higher income, more schooling, and white-collar jobs are more likely to vote and to support various political groups and associations (Hyman & Wright, 1971:191-206).

The employment and political activities are totally referred to sex, where males are assigned the superior position to that of women. While comparing the earning of both male and female, once again sex is the major sorting factor, where powerful sex affects earnings of both. For the same qualification of men and women in education, men are paid much more than women. However, it should be noted that this kind of trends exists not only in Pakistan but in other countries as well. Due to the complex structure of the country, women could not have easy access to take part in the economic and political activities in a democratic way and to poll even their votes. Due to the patriarchic nature and male hold over the political administration, the position of women is against both the ideals of religion and constitution of the country. Women do not create or intend to create self-interest to take part in the country's politics and to contribute in the economy. Even they have no knowledge about the political parties and economic system.

Statement of the Problem

This research study looks into the various economic and political barriers, which in one way or the other obstruct the way of women empowerment inPakhtoonsociety of District Malakand N-W.F.P. Pakistan. More specifically, this study has to bring into focus the cultural set-up, the traditional values, patriarchy, male dominancy, political and administrative structure, religious values and the public perception about women economic and political empowerment in the area. Beside this, the present study aims to look further into the problems faced byPakhtoonwomen during her life under the cultural and religious traditions. In addition, the present research focuses on the cultural pattern and practices that barred women from the economic and political advancements.

Objectives of the study

The economic and political constraints are dominantly observed in the area. This paper is looking into the various cultural patterns and practices which hindered the way of women economic and political empowerment among the Pakhtoons of the District Malakand, N-W.F.P. Pakistan. Following are the major objectives of the study:

1. To examine the social and cultural barriers in the way of women economic and political empowerment
2. To know about the various prevailing religious misperceptions about women economic and political empowerment
3. To know about male perception about women economic and political empowerment in Pakhtoon society

Literature Review

The idea of sexism is not particular to western society; rather in fact this is associated to the whole of the universe. However, there are difference in the division of labor and the task and status of male and female vary largely from society to society and culture to culture. In most of the societies, male are confronted with hard and tough task and that results male dominancy which according to Marvin Harris (1977:46) has been in continuous existence throughout virtually the entire globe from the earlier times to the present. Further, there is not a single society known where women-as-a-group have decision-making power over men (as a group). However, the country that comes closest to political equality between the sexes is Sweden, where half of the cabinet ministers and 41 percent of the senate (Riksdag) are women (Froman, 1994).

Gender equality and empowering women remain the top priority of the Millennium Development Goals, 2005-15. However, the main focus of the MDG was to provide basic education to women and make them equate with male in the economic activities but education was an indicator for tackling inequalities in the wider aspects of economic, political and other cultural aspects of life. Two of the goals as specified by Derbyshire, (2002:7) were:

• Share of women in paid employment in the non-agriculture sector
• Proportion of seats held by women in the national parliaments.

One of the most serious barriers in women empowerment is patriarchy and male dominancy in the region. However, the nature and hold of the patriarchic beliefs vary from culture to culture and society to society. The ideology of the male dominancy and the patriarchic values are prevalent throughout the country and such kinds of ideologies and practices according to Haq (2000:25) pervade political, economic, legal, socio-cultural and religious structure around the world. While coming to the issues of women, patriarchy and male dominancy constrains women in most of the aspects of the social, political and economic life. Control of women’s reproductive abilities and sexuality is placed in men’s hands (ibid). Patriarchic values and its propagation is used as a weapon against women and in the everyday life experience masculinity is highly valued, because it represent a kind of strength and femininity is devalues because it is treated as a kind of failure and weaknesses.

Apart from the every day life experience, women are discriminated in the field of education. Male members remain the source of economic gains and power holder and it is the prime duty of the parents to educate them and to provide them the skill for earning. Right from the beginning of the school to the highest degree, there are marked differences in the socialization and learning of both male and female. The higher one climbs the educational ladder, the more that learning is a masculine experience (Henslin, 1996:330). In addition to education, the mass media also reinforce the sex role expectation. The children books, the television, the magazine, music and the tools of advertisement strengthen masculine and feminine identities. From the beginning of the TV to the most sophisticated form of advertisement, mass media propagate most of the masculine traits. Advertisement is an insidious propaganda machine for a male supremacist society. It spews out images of women as sex mates, housekeepers, mothers, and menial workers- images that perhaps reflect the true status of most women in society, but which also make it increasingly difficult for women to break out of the sexist stereotypes that imprison them (Komisar, 1971:304).

Gender differences widen once we examine the political scenario in the world. It is men who are leading the power and politics in the world. This hold is not restricted to the political chair rather this hold is true weather one considers party leadership, elected office, appointed offices, or the policymaking levels of the federal and state civil services (Henslin, 1996:333). The underrepresentation of women at the political levels is the outcome of masculine hold over the economic and other power resources. Further, the socialization process and the institutional organization also reinforce male dominancy and patriarchy among female. Along with this, the rigid cultural values and the misperception that women could not perform political duties further impose male dominance in the power relations. Particularly, in third world countries, women participation in the political affairs is mostly linked with the social cultural and religious environment which is male oriented and that ultimately restraint women participation.

In the employment and income level, female do not have the equal status to male. However, in the advanced and industrialized nations, female’s employment in the formal sector economy is more rapid and open but still there is a wide gap in the wages of male and female. For the same job, a male could get more wage as compare to a female wage. This wage gap is also found in the United States and according to Balu and Kahn (1992) only in Japan is the gape larger than in United States.  This gap between male and female wages and employment is associated with sex. In country like Pakistan, which is a male ridden society and male is the asset and source of income is highly valued. That is the reason that attention has been given to their income and socialization and especially on their education to prepare them for future jobs. Women labor force did not receive the same attention as men do get. Female work is treated as inferior and secondary. Further they are forced to perform domestic jobs including child caring and household maintenance etc and the result is that women’s work is really never done (Feinstein, 1979:320).

Furthermore, the traditional structure of the Pakistani society treated women as housewives, who are responsible for taking care of the household, husband and raising children. Since centuries, they have been ruled over by male dominancy and are not allowed to play their active role as equal member of the society as argued by Abidi (1976) that she was as good as human being as the man and had the same sensitivities and capabilities. She could be as productive and agent of the society as man could be. Apart from the traditional structure, the traditional thinking of the Pakistani society further intensifies restriction over women empowerment. Such beliefs neglect employed women as a good housewife and such kind of female not only neglect the existence of husband but also her children. However, the research of Azhar, (1978) concludes that the employment of women brings positive effects on the socio-economic status of the family and that of women. Combining with the traditional thinking, the opposition of the husband in some cases also restricts women participation in the political and economic activities. The ego problem of the husband as women employment leads to poor socialization of the children and it damage the family life of both male and female and their children restrict women active participation and sometime the relatives (in-laws) criticizes their paid employment because they are afraid of their morals will become loose; they become too independent and forget their actual status (Hafeez, 1983).

Apart from the socialization and traditionalism, women status as a second class citizen is the outcome of lack of vocational as well as political environment in the country. The competition of female is discouraged and they are bared from the social, cultural, political and economic participation in the community activities. Moreover, they face different problems including attitudes of the society members, prejudice and unrecognizing which the working women encountered with regard to their status and role in the economic life adversely affected the utilization of their talent and working capabilities (Khalid, 1990). In addition to the aforementioned problems, the religious scripts in respect to female rights are regularly misinterpreted and that not only discriminate women but also imposes religion as male dominated religion. There is also a lacuna on the part of the government, which could not provide equal opportunities to both male and female to take part in the communal activities.