SOCIAL MOBILIZATION AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

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SOCIAL MOBILIZATION AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
A STUDY IN SELECTED AREAS OF AJK (Page 8)

Written by Abid Ghafoor Chaudhry

2. Decision Making

The decision making was thought to be the domain of males which is supported by the data as shown in table 2.

Table 2 Consultations in decision
Making related to family
Matters (Before Project)

Consultation	F	Percent
Never consulted	220	91.7
Rarely consulted	20	8.3
Total	240	100

Out total of female respondents, 91.7 percent told that before the start of the project they were never consulted in the family matters regarding education, recreations, job, and even their marriage etc. Only 8.3 percent were of the view that they were consulted but rarely in the respect that they were only informed, but there was no room for them to influence the decision made or had any say about it.

2.1 Impact of the Project

After the advent of the project, the females started participating in different income generating activities the situation changed. Data presented in table 2.1 show that.

Table 2.1 Impact of Project

Sl.No.	Types	F	Per-cent
1	Influence the decision	30	12.5
2	Change the decision	200	83.3
3.	Same situation	10	4.2
	Total	240	100

83.3 percent of the respondents said that now their increased economic status has given them the position that they feel they can change the decisions concerning family. 12.5 percent said that they can influence the decision, but in this regard, acceptance is not the condition. Rather 4.2 percent replied that the situation has not changed.

2.2 Family & Community Acceptance
Regarding Women's Economic
Activities

The information concerning upgraded women's economic status by the family and the community is presented below:

Table 2.2 Acceptance by the family

Family	F	Percent
Total acceptance	160	66.7
Accepted to a great extent	60	25
Accepted with different reservations	20	8.3
Total	240	100

In the beginning the family members hesitated to accept the independent economic status of females but as they started earning and contributing to family income, the behaviour of family members towards these women (respondents) changed. 66.7 percent told that their family members have accepted their independent economic status open heartedly. 25 percent said that their improved economic status is to a great extent accepted by their family members, whereas, only 8.3 percent replied that with different reservations it is accepted. Certain activities where there is inter mingling of both the sexes it is difficult for these females to operate as their family members do not allow.

Consultation

F

Percent

Total

Types

F

Per-cent

Family

F

Percent