What Role does Bargaining Power Play in Participation of Women? A Case Study of Rural Pakistan

Abstract

Participation strengthens the abilities and potential of poor people. However, various studies have indicated that women ’s participation is often hampered by several factors. This article analyses the determinants of women’s participation in local organisations in the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir. A focus of the article is to establish the centrality of participation in the empowerment of women. The author argues that women are not a homogenous group-meaning that strategies adopted to empower them would vary across regions, class and other factors. The article also highlights the role social networks play in furthering participation. Finally, the article puts forth the argument that participation is a complex process-a process whose outcome cannot be predicted. Factors like incomplete information, cultural, ethnic and economic restrictions often influence the decision-making process of women and hence have a bearing on the final outcome, i.e., empowerment.