Women's Ngos in Pakistan

How do NGOs overcome the suspicion of them as “Western” agents? How do they convince people that contrary to common perceptions, they do not “lead women astray from Islam”? And how, in the context of poverty, religious fundamentalism, and ethnic conflict, do NGOs convince people that women’s issues merit any attention at all? This book uncovers the skillful maneuvering that women’s NGOs have to perform in order to survive in a hostile environment. Drawing on interviews, participant observation, and published materials by and about NGOs, this book analyzes the strategies used by Pakistani women’s NGOs to advance women’s rights in a conservative—and often antagonistic—environment.?

Afshan Jafar is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Connecticut College. She has published numerous articles, which have appeared in Social Problems, Gender Issues, and other journals. She is a regular contributor to the University of Venus blog at Insidehighered.com. She received her PhD from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst.