SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPEDIMENTS TO WOMEN POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT IN PAKHTUN SOCIETY

Equality in political participation is one of the major priorities for the advancement of women throughout the globe. However, women in Pakistan are living in quagmire of centuries old customs and traditions which barricade their political empowerment. The study investigates into various socio-cultural impediments to women political empowerment in pakhtun society. The study has been conducted in Tehsil Dargayi Malakand District Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. The data has been collected from 200 graduates women through structuredinterview schedule using purposive sampling method. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches have been used and data has been analyzed in the form of simple frequency and percentage while hypotheses have been tested with the help of chi-square test. The data reveals that there exist various socio-cultural impediments including discriminatory social structure, patriarchy, feudalism, pakhtunwali which decreases women political empowerment. It has been recommends that equal opportunities in politics, women political representation, flexibility in pakhtun codes and positive role of mass media will improve women political empowerment in pakhtun society.