MEN’S PERCEPTION REGARDING RELIGIOUS IMPEDIMENTS TOWARDS WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN RURAL KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA PAKISTAN

Abstract

The main outcomes of this study are, Joint family pattern is very common in rural traditional society. People are less educated, earning low as compared to their needs. Religious misinterpretation is the major influential factor behind the disempowerment of women, majority of the  women cannot exercise the rights given by Islam, and most of women are unaware from their religious rights. The common masses considered women empowerment as a bad stigma from the religious background of the family while the misuse of the religion also goes against the favour of women empowerment. The present study was carried out to explore men’s perception regarding women empowerment from religious perspective. The study was conducted in the rural areas of
district Dir lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, through measurement of variables as obstacle to women empowerment and stability from religious point of view i.e. religious misinterpretation, exercise of religious rights, women ignorance from religious right, misuse of religion, cultural and traditional influence on religion. The study found significant association was between women empowerment and religious misinterpretation which is the major influential factor behind the disempowerment of women. Further, significant association was also noticed between women empowerment in exercise of religious right and with women’s social activities which are considered against the religious dogmas.