Title: Women's employment in Gilgit-Baltistan: a contested terrain

Authors: Rabia Ali; Iffat Bashir

Addresses: Department of Sociology, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan ' Department of Sociology, Fatima Jinnah Degree College for Women, Gilgit City, Pakistan

Abstract: This paper aims to explore the attitudes of men towards women's employment in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. Data was collected through a survey from men belonging to different backgrounds and experiences including professionals working in NGOs, government officers, businessmen, and university students. The data illustrates that despite high literacy rates for women and an increase in labour participation of women in Gilgit City, men do not favour women's work, especially in male-dominated professions. Interestingly though, men disapproved of their own sisters/wives/relatives working along with men in certain professions yet they readily accepted the idea of having women colleagues at work. Nevertheless, women's work in private spaces and their contribution to familial responsibilities were acknowledged. Women's employment was believed to involve challenges and barriers including harassment, low wages, and slow promotions. The outcomes of women's work were perceived to be positive and to be leading towards better health conditions and empowerment.

Keywords: women; workplace; attitude; family; conflict; Gilgit-Pakistan.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRCS.2022.123682

International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, 2022 Vol.9 No.3, pp.233 - 245

Received: 20 Jun 2021
Accepted: 14 Jul 2021
Published online: 30 Jun 2022 *

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