Empowerment beyond rhetoric
In a small city in Sindh, a young woman’s life took an unexpected turn in 2022. While she was still pursuing her MPhil degree, she married the man she loved, hoping to build a life with a partner who would share her dreams. But within a year, the dream fell apart.
Her husband left the house, disappearing from her daily life entirely. He refused to take responsibility for the family, and she soon discovered that he had been struggling with addiction—smoking and alcohol had consumed his ability to be a reliable partner or father. He was not just absent physically; he was incapable of sharing the burden of a household.
Left alone with a newborn child, she found herself at a crossroads. Her MPhil thesis was incomplete, and she had to raise a baby while processing the trauma of a failed marriage. The pressure was immense, and the whispers of society were loud.
"I could have spent months crying and blaming him," she recalls. "But crying would not feed my child or get me my degree. I realised I had to own my life."
And so, she did. She turned her pain into purpose. Late nights after her baby fell asleep became her study hours. She read, wrote, and researched, often with her child in her lap. While her ex-husband drowned in his own destructive habits, she was painstakingly building a future for herself and her child, one page at a time.
Her struggle was not limited to academics. To support herself and her child, she began applying for jobs. She applied for a teaching position at a local private school. Despite fierce competition, she stood before a panel and delivered a demonstration lesson on fractions to grade 3 students. She cleared a rigorous language test—and the panel offered her the job.
Today, she has completed her MPhil thesis, a degree she had almost abandoned during the chaos of her divorce and single motherhood. She is now a working professional with a steady paycheck, a daily routine, and a reason to walk out of her house with her head held high.
Her story is one of resilience and independence. When her marriage failed, she chose education, work and self-reliance over despair. Her journey shows that a woman's strength lies in her ability to rebuild her life and create a better future for herself and her child.
The idea of women's empowerment has been discussed for years at international forums, government meetings and policy conferences. But for millions of women, the issue is much more personal. It is about whether a girl can stay in school, whether a woman can earn without facing restrictions, whether she can access healthcare when she needs it and whether her voice is heard when important decisions are made.
Across the Muslim world, women are increasingly becoming doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, scientists, journalists, civil servants and technology professionals. Yet many women still struggle with basic barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
The 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women in Islamabad held last month highlighted women's participation in education, employment, entrepreneurship, technology and politics. But the real test is whether these commitments reach women beyond major cities. For many girls, poverty, distance, safety concerns and household responsibilities still limit access to education. For them, empowerment begins with something as basic as the opportunity to stay in school.
Education is often described as the foundation of women's empowerment, but its impact can be seen in everyday decisions. An educated woman is more likely to understand her rights, seek healthcare, support her children's education and participate in the workforce. The benefits do not stop with one woman; they often extend to the next generation.
A recent study from Gwadar, for example, found that 86 per cent of mothers in the sample had no formal education, highlighting the connection between maternal education, child nutrition and family well-being.
This is why investing in girls' education is not simply about improving school enrolment figures. It is about changing the choices available to women and their families. But education alone does not guarantee independence.
A university degree does not always guarantee women a job. Many face pressure around marriage, lack of childcare, unsafe commuting and unsupportive workplaces—everyday barriers that continue to limit women's participation in the workforce.
For Erum Khan, an educational psychologist, empowerment is not simply about government policies or conference declarations. It is about having the confidence, education and opportunities to build a life on one's own terms.
Reflecting on the pressure faced by women in rural communities, she says that the focus on marriage often overshadows a woman's education and ambitions. "The pressure is not always direct. It comes through constant questions about when a woman will settle down, slowly creating the idea that her worth depends on marriage rather than her dreams."
Khan also points to the challenges faced by divorced women seeking employment. From being judged on their marital status to facing additional barriers when seeking financial services, women can encounter obstacles that are rarely visible but deeply affect their independence.
Her own experience shaped her understanding of resilience. When she was told that being a mother could prevent her from completing her thesis on time, she responded by arranging childcare and working late into the night. She eventually completed her thesis on schedule.
"Being a mother is not a limitation—it is a perspective. I used it as a lens, not an excuse," she says.
For Khan, the real measure of empowerment is whether a woman can continue moving forward despite the barriers around her. "A woman's worth is not determined by who stays, but by what she dares to build."
Her story adds a personal dimension to the wider debate around women's empowerment: policies and programmes are important, but real empowerment depends on whether women have the confidence, skills and opportunities to turn those promises into independent lives.
Women's rights experts highlight the gap between policy and reality. Laws and programmes can only make a difference when women can actually access them. Without proper documents, internet, smartphones, safe transport or financial resources, many women remain excluded from these opportunities.
Women's rights activist Tarim Khan says women's empowerment must focus more on the everyday realities of rural women, where a girl's future is often centred on marriage rather than education and independence.
"In many rural communities, too much importance is placed on a girl's marriage, while her education, career and ambitions receive far less attention,” says Khan. “Marriage is a part of life, not a woman's entire life. Real empowerment means giving women the freedom and opportunity to study, work and make choices about their own future."
Khan also stresses that government policies must reach women beyond major cities. "Government programmes and policies are important, but their success depends on implementation at the grassroots level. Rural women need better access to schools, healthcare, digital technology, vocational training and financial support. Empowerment should not remain a promise on paper; it must create real choices and opportunities for women in their everyday lives."
Digital technology can create new opportunities for women, including freelancing, online businesses and education. However, women in remote areas may still face poor internet access, high costs and limited digital skills. True digital empowerment requires affordable internet, digital literacy and online safety.
For professional women, getting a job is only the beginning. Many still face barriers to career growth, including unequal pay, harassment, limited promotion opportunities and doubts about their commitment to work.
For Zuhaba Moiz Khan, a professional working in teaching, women's empowerment is closely linked to equal opportunities in education and employment. She believes that while more women are entering professional fields, many still face challenges in career growth and leadership.
"Women today have more opportunities than before, but access is still not equal for everyone. We need policies that support women not only in entering the workforce but also in building long-term careers and reaching leadership positions."
She also stresses the importance of practical support, including safe workplaces, flexible working arrangements, childcare facilities and access to digital skills. "Empowerment means creating an environment where women can succeed on merit and do not have to choose between their careers and their personal lives," she says.
Her experience can help answer an important question: what does empowerment look like once a woman has already entered the workforce?
The answer is not simply having a job. It is being able to grow, earn fairly, lead and make decisions.
The figures across OIC member states show why this conversation matters. Women make up 39.2 per cent of researchers, while 77 per cent have access to formal financial accounts. Yet women's labour-force participation stands at 41.3 per cent, and women hold only 26.4 per cent of managerial positions. Behind every percentage is a real person.
The 41.3 per cent figure represents women who have managed to enter the workforce, but it also raises a question about those who remain outside it. Who are they? Are they unable to find jobs? Are they caring for children or elderly family members? Do they lack transport or skills? Or are social expectations keeping them out of paid work?
Bangladesh provides an example of what can happen when women gain greater access to economic opportunities. Women's participation in the garment sector, microfinance and small businesses has helped increase household incomes and reduce poverty. For many women, earning an income has also changed their role within their families.
Pakistan is witnessing similar changes in some areas. Women are entering fields that were once largely dominated by men. They are working in technology, healthcare, education, media and public service. Many are earning through freelancing, online businesses and e-commerce.
A woman in Lahore or Islamabad may have far more opportunities than one in a remote village. While some women access online work and choose their careers, others still struggle with basic internet access and decisions about their education.
At a recent conference in Islamabad, highlighting initiatives supporting women's education, technology, housing and economic opportunities, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz emphasised that women should not only benefit from development but also play an active role in shaping it.
For some women, digital access can mean studying from home, applying for jobs online or running a business without renting an expensive shop. For a woman running a small business, a loan can mean hiring another employee. For a mother, a bank account can mean having greater control over her earnings. For a young woman, financial literacy can mean understanding how to save and plan for her future.
The challenges become even more serious in conflict-affected countries. In Palestine and Sudan, women and girls face displacement, interrupted education, economic insecurity and limited healthcare. For them, empowerment cannot be separated from safety and survival.
Climate change often affects rural women most, as they depend heavily on agriculture, water and food security. Yet women should not be seen only as victims; their knowledge and experience can also help communities adapt to climate challenges.
Political participation presents another challenge. Women have entered parliaments, governments and diplomatic services in several OIC countries, but their presence in senior decision-making positions remains limited. Being included in a room is not the same as having influence in that room.
Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani stressed that sustainable development is impossible without women's participation in decision-making and highlighted gender-based violence as a major barrier. Women need not only legal protection but also safe environments to participate fully in education, employment and public life.
Everyone has a role. For the OIC, the challenge now is to make sure that commitments do not remain on paper.
The organisation could track progress in girls' education, women's employment, financial inclusion and leadership. Stronger networks could connect women entrepreneurs with investors, mentors and markets, while partnerships among governments, universities and businesses could expand education and digital skills opportunities.
But ultimately, the success of any policy will depend on whether women can feel its impact in their daily lives.
These may sound like small things compared with the big promises made at international conferences. But for the women living these realities, they are not small at all.
The real success of any conference on women cannot be measured by the speeches delivered in Islamabad. It should be measured in the months and years that follow—in classrooms, workplaces, homes, businesses and communities.
Because for women, empowerment is not a declaration, but the freedom to choose, the opportunity to participate, and the ability to shape one's own future.
The writer is a teacher and a freelance contributor
All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the writer