Abstract
Women empowerment is indispensable for attaining sustainable development
goals (SDGs) 2030. This study empirically identified the key dimensions and
determinants of women empowerment in Southern Punjab using primary data
taken through multi stage cluster sampling technique. Considering the
multidimensional nature and context a comprehensive cumulative women
empowerment index is constructed through polychoric principle component
analysis with six dimensions of women empowerment. The empirical results
revealed that women empowerment is positively influenced by age and job of
women, advertency of legal rights, access to medical facilities, participation in
social gatherings, safe and clean environment, communication behavior,
participation in politics and negatively by area of residence, unpaid domestic care
work and fear of violence.
