Women Empowerment - A Symbolic Perspective: A Case Study of Dhoke Khabba, Rawalpindi

Abstract

Women empowerment has been a prominent part of the rhetoric of development in developing countries. Though there is a multitude of literature available on women empowerment in Pakistani context, the multi-faceted nature of the term has led to quantitative studies; either capturing it through indicators or simply using the complexity of its definition in mentioning it as a buzzword. This thesis is a qualitative study, which attempts to fill the gap left behind by generalized, largely quantitative literature. Its focus was on conceptualization of women empowerment from the perspective of development agencies as well as the indigenous group that is being empowered, by taking the interaction between them as symbolic, where empowerment may have different meanings for stakeholders. The research took women of Dhoke Khabba as the indigenous group and Aawaz (Voice and Accountability Programme) as the project which aimed to bring about empowerment of women in the locale. It provided a symbolic perspective by discovering the perceptions attached and observing achievement of empowerment through interactions on the project platform. Evolved grounded theory approach with a symbolic interactionist theme was used to analyze and organize the findings and data was collected through qualitative techniques such as in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. The main findings of the study indicate that when being opertionalized, empowerment cannot be taken as a monolithic, homogenous term; rather, it has multiplicity of meanings, significantly two distinct dominant understandings: that of indigenous women and Aawaz respectively.1 Specifically, it is perceived at three different levels: upper, middle and lower or local. The project is carried out in accordance to the goal, outputs and related meanings associated with empowerment at the upper level. However, this is different from how empowerment is perceived at local level by beneficiaries who identify with the concept according to their practical lived realities, outlining hindrances to its achievement. At the middle level, during interactions on the project platform, these perceptions clash, where local women participate but utilize the resources available to adopt alternative pathways to empowerment, not taken as legitimate exercise of power by upper level. The findings were showcased in a model as a symbolic representation of women empowerment. The research emphasizes on the recognition of non-linear nature of empowerment when attempting to bring it about in Pakistan, adopting participatory approaches and taking into account contextual inhibiting factors while treating the women as active stakeholders rather than passive participants.