Women's political participation and the women's movement in Pakistan

Gender Studies · Women in Pakistan. The idea in plain words, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid and a worked example, written and checked by Mega Lecture.

Test this topic free All Gender Studies topics

The idea

Women were active in the Pakistan Movement. Bi Amma spoke for the Khilafat cause, Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz sat at the Round Table Conferences, and women in Punjab joined the street protests of 1947 against the Unionist ministry. Fatima Jinnah worked beside the Quaid and later stood for President against Ayub Khan in January 1965.

After 1947 two organisations set the pattern. APWA, founded in 1949, did welfare work in education, health and skills. The Women's Action Forum, formed in 1981, was an advocacy group that resisted laws seen as discriminating against women.

Reserved seats in the legislatures, a form of affirmative action, and the election of Benazir Bhutto in 1988 are the main political milestones.

Rules to remember

Fatima Jinnah: a dentist by profession, honoured as Madar-e-Millat (Mother of the Nation).
APWA (All Pakistan Women's Association): founded in 1949 by Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan.
Begum Shaista Ikramullah and Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz were the women members of the first Constituent Assembly; Ikramullah wrote From Purdah to Parliament.
1970: first national general election on universal adult franchise.
WAF: a voluntary, non-governmental advocacy group of the early 1980s.
Benazir Bhutto became Prime Minister in 1988, the first woman to head the government of a Muslim-majority country.
2002 arrangements: 60 seats reserved for women in a National Assembly of 342.

Common mistake

Students confuse APWA with WAF. APWA (1949) is a welfare organisation founded by Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan; WAF (1981) is a rights advocacy group formed in the Zia period.

Worked example

In the 1950s a women's organisation runs schools, dispensaries and industrial homes where refugee women learn a trade. Is this more likely APWA or the Women's Action Forum?

The date is the 1950s; WAF was not formed until 1981.
The work described is social welfare and skills training, not protest against laws.
APWA was founded in 1949 and is known for welfare work of this kind.

Answer: APWA.

Ask about this

Type what you are stuck on. The helper finds the explanation, worked examples and the notes to read, free and instant.

Read the full notes

Keep going

← Violence against women Education, health and employment of women in Pakistan →Take a Gender Studies test