The mobility of Pakistani women outside the home is a point to be debated on, regarding the lackluster attention given to it. Women’s movements are restricted, not only by social and religious norms, but also by patriarchal figures. These well accepted rules against women and their contribution to the nation’s economy is part of the reason why the country continues to be in despair.
Not only are women not permitted to come into close contact with men outside their families, but they also face extreme stigma surrounding any prospect of having a life outside the home. From social disrespect to targeted harassment and a lack of professional respect, female mobility is limited to the confines of one’s home. In this case, where women do not have the means to travel, and are held back by their authoritative male family members, they do not get to participate in the labor force or carry on with their education. Hence, they have no choice of independent activity, making Pakistan one of those Asian countries where its female population continues to face extreme inequality, mobility issues and delivery of amenities.
Women in the country face issues with public transport and its inaccessibility to their gender. Besides a lack of proper transportation infrastructure, women often are held back in their schooling and career prospects due to political and religious concerns. While there have discursive debates about this problem and its address, even now women are forced to either use private transport possibilities or stay at home.
In a survey conducted by the Center for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP), it was found that 70% of male respondents were in favor of discouraging their female family members from taking public wagon services. There was an opportunity to send these women into safe, female only spaces, but such a luxury does not exist in the country as of yet.
Although there have been separate women’s compartments in buses and trains for facilitation, they often are unchecked in regards to safety. Many women lack access to transport services, and do not get to travel alone. While women only services, such as the Pink Bus routes of Lahore, have made this problem slightly less staggering, it does not change cultural mindsets regarding women and their freedoms. Even these solutions are limited to geographic coverage, restricted timings and a lack of publicity.
The female population today tries to find reliable, inexpensive and safe ways to travel within and outside of their cities. When travelling beyond their neighborhoods, women rely on public transport like buses and wagons. Those without private vehicles prefer rickshaws or taxis. However, due to exorbitant fares, public buses are frequented the most. A section of them work full time jobs, whether out of desire or necessity, and in such cases they have to walk through unsafe pathways, streets and take public transport to get to their place of work. They feel unsafe and the target of street harassment, and suffer from verbal and physical abuse, such as groping, catcalling and molestation.
Among these women, it was found in another study that those between 20 and 34 years of age, those who were married, had children, or those dependent on other household members and those living in lower income households were more likely to be immobile. Hence, it can be noted that immobility is a gendered issue and its nature is restricted because of its impact on Pakistani women.
A study by the Women Development Department did some digging into the alarming rates at which women experience harassment in public transportation. Ninety per cent of respondents claimed that male conductors and ticket-checkers made unnecessary physical contact with them while issuing tickets, which was another staggering statistic.
As a result, it can be seen why the women of this country are less mobile and only travel sporadically. They further have problems with travelling socially, such as to meet friends, unlike their male counterparts. Women have to ensure that they have permission from the head of the household, often have their clothing policed severely when leaving the house and are seldom allowed to go anywhere without a male escort.
These social regulations are making them increasingly dependent on the public transportation system for mobility, despite its awful state. In light of this, it has been noted that Pakistan could boost its GDP by 30% by closing the gender gap and bringing its women into the economy. The women residing in cities are unable to conduct a free participation in the economy because of religious values and cultural norms. What could be the solution to such a drastic issue?
It has been made clear that creating awareness is the first step to solving this problem. Gender consideration, respect for women in the workplace, harassment laws both inside and outside professional spaces are part of this long term progression towards change. Adding to this, the appointment of female bus-conductors and ticket collectors can act as a simple framework for making women’s mobility simpler and safer, thus encouraging them to take on more jobs. But the implementation of such changes will require a complete shift in the way women are perceived by their male counterparts.
From policy design, the addition of female legislators, and implementing drastic changes it is up to both social activists, lawmakers and urban planners to bring about this much needed progress. Generation of gender specific debates in educational institutes and giving women more representation on policy framing will be a critical way to adhere to a safer and more mobile future.
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