THE COMMUTE TO EQUALITY: ADDRESSING TRANSPORT ISSUES FOR MIDDLE CLASS FEMALE STUDENTS

THE COMMUTE TO EQUALITY: ADDRESSING TRANSPORT ISSUES FOR MIDDLE CLASS FEMALE STUDENTS

Maham Hussain

[Women Ascension Peace and Justice (WAPJ); Supervisor: Dr. Maheen Amjad]

[Submitted in (partial) fulfilment of the requirements for the fellowship of Peace and Justice Programme; Centre for Learning Innovation, Women Ascension, May 2024]

Imagine a bright young woman in Punjab, Pakistan, full of dreams and potential, hindered not by her abilities but by the lack of a reliable means to get to her college or university each day. Young women from middle-class families in Punjab face considerable transportation barriers that limit their access to higher education and impact their academic performance, safety, and future opportunities.

This piece aims to shed light on the transit problems young women in Punjab experience, analyze the larger implications, identify significant participants in the issue, discuss obstacles, and suggest future developments and solutions.

Transportation is a vital component of guaranteeing access to education. For many young women from middle-class homes in Punjab, the commute to college or university is a major source of stress, affecting their attendance, punctuality, and overall academic performance.

Historically, women’s education in Pakistan has faced numerous obstacles, from cultural expectations to financial limitations. Despite increased access to education, practical problems like transportation remain a significant hurdle.

Key players in this scenario include educational institutions, government bodies such as the Punjab Transport Department, public transport authorities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working towards improving educational access for women.

Transportation obstacles for young women from middle-class families in Punjab make it difficult to pursue their education. Many families cannot afford private transportation for their daughters and must rely on public transportation, which is often dangerous and unreliable. Research indicates that girls are twice as likely as boys to experience harassment when using public transport.

According to a poll by the Aurat Foundation in Lahore, more than 65% of young women have experienced harassment on their way to work, contributing to a higher dropout rate among female students. In Punjab’s rural areas, inadequate public transport infrastructure often necessitates long walks, deterring women from pursuing higher education.

Safety concerns significantly impact the willingness and capacity of young women to seek higher education. Many parents are reluctant to let their daughters travel alone due to incidents of harassment and violence on public transportation. This fear is exacerbated by insufficient security measures and a lack of women-only transportation options.

Local news outlets have reported on the prevalence of harassment incidents on public buses in cities such as Faisalabad and Multan. The absence of buses or compartments reserved for women intensifies the fear many girls and their families feel about using public transportation.

Transport concerns directly affect young women’s mental health and academic performance. Frequent delays and the anxiety of risky travel conditions reduce study time, lead to absenteeism, and lower academic achievement. Even if harassment is not experienced frequently, managing the mental toll of it can be debilitating.

A study by the University of Punjab revealed that female students living farther from campus or lacking secure and reliable transport received significantly lower grades. Inconsistent transportation caused many female students in Gujranwala to miss crucial tests or classes.

Transportation challenges not only hinder young women’s immediate educational goals but also their long-term career prospects and financial independence. Providing safe and dependable transportation is essential to empower women and promote gender equality in education.

Dr. Sarah Niaz, a gender studies specialist at Lahore College for Women University, asserts, “Resolving transportation-related issues is essential to attaining real educational equity. We cannot expect to close the gender gap in higher education if we do not have safe and consistent access to education.”

Addressing transportation issues requires collective responsibility from families, communities, and public institutions. However, given the systemic nature of the problem, all parties involved must collaborate to find solutions.

The inability to afford higher education for young women from middle-class families in Punjab due to transportation issues is a significant barrier impacting their safety, academic performance, and future opportunities. It is crucial to address these transport issues through comprehensive policies and community efforts to create an inclusive educational environment.

Future developments should prioritize expanding women-only transport options, enhancing security on public transport, and implementing laws that encourage young women to pursue higher education without fear.

References

Aurat Foundation. (2023). “Survey on Women’s Safety in Public Transport in Lahore.”

University of Punjab. (2022). “Impact of Commute on Female Students’ Academic Performance.”

Local News Reports from Faisalabad and Multan on Public Transport Issues (2021-2023).

About the Author: Maham Hussain – Women Ascension Peace and Justice Fellow

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