Working women and the changing ground realities in Pakistan

Working in professional fields for women is considered normal in most societies. However, Pakistani women are still struggling to overcome social taboos and stigmas attached to working outside the home. In a society where women have traditionally been assigned the role of a homemaker, stepping foot into the professional world comes with its challenges. In the recent years, there has been a paradigm change though. Women are now pursuing higher education in diverse fields and entering into professions which were considered out-of-bounds for them in the past. They are working as fighter pilots, legislators, media persons, educators, doctors, entrepreneurs and traffic sergeants. There is more acceptance, appreciation and respect for working women.

However, it does not mean all is well. Women still have to go through a constant battle, in order to balance their careers and family lives. With inflation on the rise, the middle class is forced to look for ways to enhance their income to deal with the economic pressures. Working women help in maintaining a steady income and take part of the economic burden off the shoulders of the male family members. Mrs. Salma Tasleem who works in a beauty salon in the metropolitan Lahore agrees with this view. Talking to me on the telephone, she said:

“With the increase in price of everything, the income of one person is no longer sufficient. You have to put extra effort to make ends meet. Though I do not earn much, the little contribution I make helps in maintaining the household. I do wish I had achieved enough education so that I could work at a better place and earn more.”

Pakistani working women often have to face character assassination, harassment and criticism. In some segments of society, women are forced to leave their jobs after getting married because their in-laws and husbands do not approve of women having careers and want them to focus solely on raising the family. Mrs. Hina Shehzad is a lawyer with three children and is among the hundreds of women who are debunking this misconception by successfully managing family and work. She thinks that:

“The concept that women cannot manage their careers and families simultaneously does little credit to the capability of women all over the world, and especially in Pakistan. I have pursued my career with great enthusiasm and have achieved success. On the other hand, I have raised my children with attention, love and care. They are independent and confident individuals who understand that my career is as important for them as it is for me.”

Mrs Shehzad cannot understand why some women are forced to choose between career and family, when they can do both with a little extra effort and mutual cooperation from the husband. She stressed that men should realise that working women play a very important role in society. She believes that her husband’s support was a game changer for her.

“Knowing that your partner is there for you to pick up the slack in tough times is a blessing. No one can do everything all the time. Your partner should be your support system and I was lucky to have just that.”

Marian Sharaf, a journalist from Islamabad, blames the joint-family system as the biggest hurdle for working women. She says, “Whether one is working by choice or otherwise, women, especially married ones, have a whole Pandora’s Box to take care of. Whether living in a joint family or alone, at the end of the day every woman has to perform the role of a ‘homemaker’. Unfortunately, in most families, the in-laws do not realise the effort you are putting in on a daily basis. Some women work because they are ambitious while others just need to make ends meet. In either case, the family support they receive is minimal.”

On the other hand, some women believe that living in joint families helps divide the workload. Arifa Nazli, who works for an NGO, shares this opinion. She feels that “women who live in joint families have an easier life than those who live alone. In joint families, grandparents take care of children, help them with their homework, other family members help in payment of bills, purchasing household supplies and buying and stitching of clothes. Women like me, who live separately, have to take care of all these things themselves.”

Despite these varied opinions, the slow yet steady change throughout various pockets in society is very much palpable. With advances in communication technologies, media, education and awareness, parents have become open-minded towards the idea of their daughters working in offices. Instead of seeing it as a stigma, parents increasingly want their daughters to become economically independent. After marriage, they are not entirely dependent on their husbands for financial support and wellbeing. In this regard, Mr Mohammad, a father of four daughters, does not understand why people educate their sons very well, yet take their daughter’s education casually. “It is crucial that women get the best education and strive for the best jobs. This not only helps them become financially independent, it also makes them confident and bold.” Adding to the conversation, his wife said, “I think women have the capability to achieve success in any field they enter. Most of the time, women are more talented and hardworking than men, if they put their heart and soul in their work.” Mr Mohammad might not agree with the last bit, as he laughs heartily when the wife mentions it, but they are both on the same page when it comes to women, education and work.

Well-educated men and women are valuable assets for any society. For a developing country like Pakistan, it is even more important that both men and women participate in strengthening the economy and contribute to the nation-building process.

Things are gradually improving for the Pakistani women—mainly through their tremendous determination, resilience and courage. With equal support from their families and male counterparts, they can take this progress further.