UNVEILING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE INDEX FOR PAKISTAN

Abstract

The concept of Women Empowerment in social development has garnered significant attention over the last two decades. The present study contributes to this discourse by constructing a Composite Women Empowerment Index (CWEI) utilizing data from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) conducted in 2017-18. This index comprehensively encompasses all possible dimensions of women empowerment, including economic, socio-cultural, familial, and psychological aspects in context of Pakistan. The Composite Women Empowerment Index (CWEI) is constructed using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method. The outcomes affirm the psychological empowerment model, showcasing positive and significant interrelationships among familial, economic, socio-cultural, and psychological empowerment dimensions. The findings emphasize that advancements in any one of these dimensions contribute to an overall increase in women empowerment across various aspects.