The Explorer Islamabad: Journal of Social Sciences

ISSN: 2411-0132(E), 2411-5487(P)

Vol-1, Issue (11):413-415
www.theexplorerpak.org

MALE OUT MIGRATION AND THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN IN SAIDU SHARIF
DISTRICT SWAT, KPK PAKISTAN
Touqeer Ahmed1, Muhammad Shahzad2, Muhammad Nadir Shahzad3, Shahid Hussain4, Shafqat Ali4
1
Area Manager Innovative development Strategies Pvt. Ltd, 2University of Sargodha, 3Quaid.i.Azam
University Islamabad, 4PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
Corresponding Author:
Muhammad Nadir Shahzad
Department of Sociology QAU Islamabad
nadirshahzadqau@gmail.com
Abstract: The present study was designed to find the impact of husband migration on the lives of women that
how the role of women changes in the absence of their husband. It intended at identifying the changed and
privileged status of women in the absence of the male in a patriarchal society. The study was conducted in district
swat KPK and is a quantitative type of study. The data was collected via self-administered questionnaires. The
major findings of the study revealed that a strong relationship exists between the migration and the socio
economic status of the families left behind especially the lives of women (wives of the migrants) experienced a
great change. The status of women alters with the out movement of males and she gets an empowered position in
almost every domain of life.

Key Words: Migration, Globalization, Changing role

INTRODUCTION
Migration is defined as the movement of people
from one place to another for different
purposes. it is the geographical movements of
individuals or groups for the purpose of
permanent or semi-permanent resettling. People
either adopt voluntary migration or they are
compelling by some factors to adopt migration
involuntary. There are two major kind of
migration. One is national migration and other is
international migration. National migration refers
to movement of people within a region or a
country. For example when people move from
rural to urban areas they migrate nationally. On
the other side when people move from one
region or country to another region or country it
refers to international migration. Globalization
and urbanization are the two factors which play
an important role in the increasing ratio of
national and international migration. There are
different reasons of migration including poverty,
unemployment in the homeland, worst living
conditions, lack of opportunities, poor education
facility, bad governance, terrorism, lack of
resources and many more. Mostly people move
from less developed countries to the developed
countries to avail better opportunities in their

life. Migration has great impact on the sending

and the receiving countries. It is the cause of
political, social, cultural, and economic changes in
the host and the receiving countries. The influx of
a great number of people changes the socioeconomic conditions of the regions. In this
research male out migration from Saidu Sharif
Swat KPK has been studied. This study has been
conducted in a patriarchal society where all the
authorities rests with the males and women
were least concern with authoritative position.
Basic focus of this research is to observe the
changing role of women with the migration of
husband.
Male out Migration
Male are the most important part of any society.
They are the back bone of the society. They
perform very important jobs especially economic
activities are mostly carried out by them. In a
patriarchal society males are the major decision
makers and they performed most important
tasks. They hold a significant place in the society
and act as the forerunners of the society. The
male out migration is creating changes in the life
style of people residing in Pakistan. Through the
phenomenon of migration the villages and the
cities of Pakistan are exposing to the outer world.

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Migration influences the lives of people a lot. The

ratio of male out migration in Pakistan is very
high as compared to women the basic reason of
this is the economic instability of the country and
unavailability of jobs in the country. So for the
sake of better and secure future as well as a safe
and sound life style the men are compelled to
move out and pursuit better opportunities not
only for themselves but for the family as a whole.
Impact of Male out Migration on Women
As men, women are also an important part of
society and without them society cannot move.
In every society men and women perform
different roles assign to them. The migration
affects these roles in one way or the other. The
effects of migration not only influence the life of
the migrant but also the family left behind. In the
absence of the head of the family the roles of
other members changed a lot. This movement
affects the lives of women. Their responsibilities
and their jobs get increases especially with the
migration of husband the jobs of wife become
double now she has to play double role in the
household activities, if she is a mother than in the
absence of father she also has to play the role of
father. Besides performing the house hold
activities she has to perform outdoor activities
too. This double role either increases her decision
making power or increases burden on her. Some
women get empowered by this while some get
only extra burden. In this study empowerment of
women and how the migration of men affects the
empowerment of women is examined.
LITERATURE
The male migration is an indication for the
change in the organization of the family. It totally
alters the family life not only the migrant suffers
from the effects of migration but the family left
behind also faces the impacts of the movement
(Gulati 1993). Especially the roles of women
changes a lot with the migration of the male the
social and economic life of a women experience a
lot of variations. Her social and economic life
totally fluctuates. These alterations may be
disadvantageous too as she now has to play
double role. Gultai states that the families of the
migrant have to make amendments in their life
styles they have to adjust their life style and they
have to make themselves ready for greater
responsibility because of the absence of the head

of the family or other male family member. The

absence of the family member especially when
the migrant is the head of the household greatly
affects the life of the wife left behind (Sekher
1997). His movement can have severe
consequences on the life of the women. Her life
can alter both socially and economically as the
economic position changes with the migration
automatically but the social life also changes as
the women left behind now has to perform
double role and a lot of responsibilities comes on
her shoulders. The male out migration the
women may faces both the situations they may
either be empowered or may not, on the one
hand a woman in the absence of a man can gain
liberation, freedom , individuality and can
become independent. She can gain new skills of
compatibility and can achieve an improved
status. But on the other hand there is also
possibility that she can lose her individuality and
status in the absence of male. Her work load
increases when a male member leaves the home.
The movement of the male affects the health of
the female a lot and also her wellbeing. She can
become more and more dependent on a man for
different activities of life. The individuality and
freedom of the women affects a lot and
sometimes they become more subjected towards
troubles rather than freedom and liberty.
The increasing ability of women is not only
beneficial for the woman but it put effects on the
society as a whole. The absence of a male not
only boosts the freedom and independence of
women but the lives of all other people
associated with that woman also get changed
(Chakravarty 2001). The active participation of
women in many fields of life can contribute a lot
to the lives of the family members, children as
well as the common people of the society. These
people may include all type and all ages ranging
from children to adults and male to female. This
shows that the participation of a female in
different spheres of life is very necessary not only
the woman herself but for the whole society. The
empowerment of women basically initiates when
the women realize their importance and they
become aware of their worth. When the women
internalize that they are also an important part of
the society and they reach at the level of
awareness then the process of externalization of

414

this realization begins. After that the women

begin taking part in the outdoor activities and her
roles become dominant in the community. Their
role in house hold can be determined by their
own awareness and realization of their value. The
meaningful and beneficial participation of women
is only possible when she internalize her
importance first in her own mind and then
externalize it in the whole society and household
by performing useful and important task
(Hashemi, et al. 1993).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this research the data was collected on the
bases of quantitative research. Data was
collected by self-administrative questionnaire
and interview. The universe was taken by the
researcher district Swat Saidu Sharif. 110
respondents were taken as a sample population.
Sampling technique was purposive sampling. For
data collection interview schedule was used.
Coding was made for statistical analysis. Data
analyzed by SPSS 17.0 versions.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table.1: Level of Independency in Decision
Making of Women before and After Migration of
Husband

Yes

Before Migration
Frequency
% age
29
26.4

After Migration
Frequency % age
71
64.5

No

81

73.6

39

35.5

Total

110

100.0

110

100.0

This table shows that 26.4% women have

decision making power and 73.6% have not
decision making power before migration. After
male out migration 64.5% women have decision
making power and 35.5% have not decision
making power. Over all the data represent that
the two most important aspects of
empowerment i.e. decision making power and
financial independency were altogether changed
with the phenomenon of migration.
CONCLUSION
We can conclude from the above results that in
the absence of husband the authoritative
position is gained by the wife and the decisions
are mostly taken by her. Women can get selfsufficiency and independence as the husbands
are absent and they are relatively free to spend
their lives according to their will but besides this
sovereignty the left behind women also faces a

lot of pressure, strain and anxiety. They

sometime face more vulnerability and weakness
because of the work load and isolation. The
women whose husbands experienced migration
are at greater risk of increased family
interference. Although the responsibilities of the
women increases with the migration of husband
but her status also get changed. In the absentee
ship of the husband the women become able to
spent life according to her will, especially in a
patriarchal societies the women enjoys a changed
and beneficial position. The increasing abilities of
women are not only beneficial for the woman in
particular but it put effects on the whole society.
REFERENCES
Gulati, Leela
1993 In the Absence of their Men: The
Impact of Male Migration on Women.
Sage Publications India Pvt Ltd.
Hashemi, Syed M., Sidney Ruth Schuler, and Ann
P. Riley
1996 Rural Credit Programs and
Womens Empowerment in Bangladesh.
World development 24 (4): 635653.
Sekher, T.V.
1997 Migration and Social Change.
Jaipur and New Delhi: Rawat.
Chakravarty, Shanker
2001 Many Faces of Gender
Inequality
Frontline.
Available
from:
http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1822
/18220040.html
Publication Date: Dec-1-2015
2015The Explorer Islamabad Journal of Social Sciences-Pakistan

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