Makran has a unique history regarding the status of women. Every woman in Gwadar district has entire control over the property acquired from her husband as dower. And, as the Islamic law of inheritance is followed, she may expect in course of time to inherit a portion of her parents property and will be entitled to a share in her husbands property if he pre-decease her. Sometimes this ownership of property saves a woman from divorce as in that situation her husband would have to transfer the property which he promised her as haq mehr. As indicating the pre-eminent position occupied by women, it may be mentioned that it has been customary to attribute the qualities of a son or daughter to the mother and not to the father.

A few women have joined the formal sector through government jobs, specially in the field of education. Few women are working as motivators for the Primary Education Development Project as well as for the Water and Sanitation Cell of the LG&RDD. Since 1995, government has started employing middle pass girls as women health workers under the Prime Minister’s Programme for Family Planning and Basic Health. Through these opportunities women are striving towards economic independence. Still women are either deprived of many income generation activities or being exploited by undervaluing such activities. One such example is that of embroidery work, which is bought from the women at nominal price and is further sold in the markets of Quetta and Karachi at much higher prices.

The economic independence of women in Gwadar does not fully result into social independence. She has multiple roles but her socio-cultural milieu either do not allow her to perform these roles satisfactorily or she has no opportunities. Sometimes her role performance is restricted to the limits suiting the male domination. She makes many of the routine domestic decisions but decisions regarding major issues, like the children’s marriages, are made by males in the family. However, she definitely has an advisory position in decision making. Unmarried girls have no say in the decision about their marriage. Veil is not very strictly practised in Gwadar and unlike other districts of Makran women can be seen in the markets and at picnic spots. They do shopping on their own.

However, Gwadar is still a male dominated society where a male child is preferred. This preference results in discrimination of female children in education, health, nutrition, and love. Expenditure on female education is considered a waste. In this way women loose their chance to be financially secure and they remain male dependants. Due to male child preference, mothers without a male child are required to conceive repeatedly without an appropriate break which endangers their lives also. Exclusive health facilities, i.e. 3 mother and child health care centres, are established at Gwadar, Pasni, and Kallag; however due to unavailability of female staff, the MCHC at Kallag is non-functional.

Women have relatively limited chances of recreation. In Gwadar many women are found on picnic spots like Koh-e-Batil and Akra Kaur Dam along with their male family members. Indoor games are arranged for girls in their schools. The only political role women in Gwadar can play is casting their vote, usually according to the will of their male family members.

Back to Gwadar