“Women in decision making” refers to women’s autonomy in making choices that affect their livelihood, including education, employment, marriage, and reproductive health. In the context of this research, a decision maker is someone who has the authority, confidence, and freedom to make informed choices about the woman in question, without coercion or restriction. As of 2019, females constitute nearly half of Pakistan’s population, but only 22% participate in the workforce, 12% own a bank account, and 4% hold managerial positions. These statistics highlight the significant gender gap in decision-making power in Pakistan.
The table below mentions the factors affecting women’s decision making as of 2005-2019: