It is profoundly heartbreaking that the immense potential of many brilliant and talented women remains undiscovered because they lack the resources, opportunities, and support they need.
Such words are painful to hear because they represent a reality where the futures of talented women are decided without considering their own dreams and ambitions. Only because of these outdated traditions, which have no substance, we end up wasting the potential women have. And this is later felt in the future.
They have always been taught to be dependent on others. The reality is, only when they become independent would they know how to manage their skills and talents in useful work, which would not only benefit them but also their family.
The numbers tell the story
and over half of these women have not even been to school.
The question arises: why? The answer is family pressure; they have been given household responsibilities, parents plan their wedding, or make them do labor.
The Iron Lady of Pakistan
Muniba Mazari, who was married at the age of 18 to fulfill her father’s wishes. These wishes cost her personal aspirations. One day, she was travelling with her husband; he fell asleep while driving, and their car plunged into a ditch. Her husband jumped out and escaped safely, leaving Muniba trapped inside. She was severely injured. Doctors saved her life but told her she would never walk again, paint again, or give birth to children.
She was bedridden in the hospital for a period of two years, during which she decided to fight despair. Although she couldn’t move, she asked for a canvas and acrylic paints to begin painting her feelings. She adopted her son, Nael.
Muniba, who was left divorced, paralyzed, and a single mother, took advantage of her literacy, speaking skills, and artistic talent to live and thrive.
Now she owns her own art brand called Muniba’s Canvas, which has helped her financially. She used her strong communication skills and became the first wheelchair-bound television anchor for PTV. She had been appointed as Pakistan’s first UN Women National Ambassador for empowering single mothers.
Education leads to confidence, independence, and a better future. It helps us discover and unlock the hidden skills inside us. Limiting female education limits the growth of families and societies as a whole. We cannot progress as a nation with a mindset where female education is not given importance.
Education is the basic need of every man and woman, which helps them discover their abilities, pursue their dreams, and contribute their talents to the world. This way, their talent is discovered and recognized worldwide; they unlock more opportunities and make their futures bright in ways unimaginable without education.
An educated woman is more likely to make her children educated too, which could lead to endless generations of educated men and women and hence guarantee ultimate success.