Abstract
This research paper assesses the relative strength of individual,
familial, and socio-cultural factors that determine women’s
empowerment. A sample of 1000 married women of age ranged
from 21-49 years (Mage =35. 55 years, SD= 7.80) from Punjab,
Pakistan was included in the study. Women’s empowerment
was measured by Composite Women’s Empowerment Index.
Stepwise Regression Analysis was carried out to assess the
relative contribution of predictors in women’s empowerment.
The results show that individual-level factors (paid job,
personal income, own property, self-esteem, gender awareness
perception, internal locus of control, and legal awareness),
familial level factors (conjugal age, family head, and husband’s
support), and socio-cultural factor (use of mobile phone)
appeared as significant predictors of women’s empowerment.
The value of R2
indicated that 57 percent of the variance in
women’s empowerment was accounted for by these three levels
of determinants. The study concluded that in a patriarchal
culture like Pakistan, women’s personal attributes were the
most significant enabling factors to empowerment, yet
attainment of women’s empowerment was also contingent to
their position in the family, the attitude of the family, and use
of communication technology (i.e., mobile phone). The scope
of the study and policy were also discussed.
Syeda Azra Batool, Syeda Shahida Batool. (2018) Individual, Familial, and Socio-Cultural Determinants of Women’s Empowerment, Paradigms , Vol 12, Issue 1.
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