# *Detailed SUMMARY of the article "A woman's worth" by Muna Khan, Published in Dawn on June 15th, 2025:* The article begins with the author's personal experience as editor of *The Review* in the *early 2000s*, working under *Tahir Mirza* who taught her to think critically about issues and helped her write her first editorial on how *fashion weeks could boost the economy*. After being transferred to the *leader writing team*, she learned how to write about recurring issues without sounding repetitive. The author uses the murder of *TikToker Sana Yousaf*, shot dead on her *17th birthday* by a man angered by her indifference, as a catalyst to discuss broader issues of *gender-based violence* and *women's economic participation*. She argues that nothing can change unless people and corporations stop profiting from *misogyny*, citing *influencers like Andrew Tate* who corrupt young boys and normalize *incel culture*, and leaders like *Imran Khan* who make excuses for men's behavior. The article highlights that only *25% of Pakistan's women* are in the *formal labour force* according to the *Asian Development Bank*, and emphasizes that no country can progress if its women lag behind. The author references *McKinsey's 2015 estimate* that advancing *gender equality* could add *$12 trillion to global GDP by 2025*. She provides success stories from *Rwanda*, which after the *1994 genocide* made *gender equality* a priority, implementing a *30% quota for women* in state decision-making bodies and becoming the first country with a *female majority in parliament*. *Six of Rwanda's 11 banks* are run by women, and women-owned businesses significantly contribute to the economy. The article also mentions *Vietnam's progress* following the *American War*, where they created quotas and improved women's access to education and work, resulting in *69.1% of women* being in the labour force last year. *Bangladesh* is highlighted for investing in women from the beginning, with their *labour force participation growing to 44%* last year. *Chile's education reforms* included *childcare subsidies* enabling mothers to work, with participation growing to *52%* since 1990, making Chile one of the fastest-growing economies in *South America*. The article concludes by noting that *Pakistan ranked last among 148 nations* in the *World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025*, and references the *IMF's 2023 statement* that narrowing the gap between men and women's work participation is crucial for reviving economies. # *Easy/Short SUMMARY*: The murder of *17-year-old TikToker Sana Yousaf* highlights Pakistan's ongoing *gender-based violence* crisis. Only *25% of Pakistani women* work formally, while countries like *Rwanda*, *Vietnam*, *Bangladesh*, and *Chile* have successfully increased women's economic participation through quotas, education reforms, and childcare support. *Pakistan ranked last* in the *World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Report 2025*. The author argues that stopping profit from *misogyny* and increasing women's workforce participation is essential for economic growth, citing *McKinsey's estimate* of *$12 trillion* potential global GDP increase through *gender equality*. # *SOLUTIONS of The Problem*: ## *1. Implement Gender Quotas* Establish *30% quotas for women* in all *state decision-making bodies* like *Rwanda's constitution*. ## *2. Provide Childcare Subsidies* Introduce *childcare subsidies* like *Chile* to enable mothers to join the workforce. ## *3. Combat Online Misogyny* Ban *misogynistic influencers* like *Andrew Tate* and demonetize platforms promoting *incel culture*. ## *4. Improve Women's Education Access* Invest in *women's education* and *work opportunities* following *Vietnam's* and *Bangladesh's* models. ## *5. Promote Women's Entrepreneurship* Support *women-owned businesses* and *SME growth* through targeted *entrepreneurship programs*. ## *6. Create Safe Work Environments* Establish *workplace safety protocols* and *harassment prevention* measures for women. ## *7. Reform Media Representation* Stop glamorizing *gender-based violence* in *TV dramas* and promote positive female role models. ## *8. Strengthen Legal Frameworks* Enforce strict *anti-harassment laws* and ensure swift justice for *gender-based crimes*. ## *9. Invite Skilled Diaspora* Encourage *skilled women* from the *diaspora* to return and contribute to national development. ## *10. Economic Incentives for Gender Equality* Provide *tax incentives* to companies with *gender-balanced workforces* and leadership. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article*: - *Sana Yousaf* was shot dead on her *17th birthday* by a rejected suitor. - Only *25% of Pakistan's women* are in the *formal labour force* (*Asian Development Bank*). - *McKinsey estimated* that advancing *gender equality* could add *$12 trillion to global GDP by 2025*. - *Rwanda* implemented a *30% quota for women* in state decision-making bodies after *1994 genocide*. - *Six of Rwanda's 11 banks* are run by women. - *Vietnam* has *69.1% of women* in the labour force. - *Bangladesh* has *44%* women's labour force participation. - *Chile* has *52%* women's labour force participation since 1990. - *Pakistan ranked last among 148 nations* in *World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025*. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures out of the article*: - *Pakistan's female literacy rate* is *46%* compared to *69%* for males (*UNESCO*, 2024). - *Gender-based violence* affects *34%* of Pakistani women (*UN Women*, 2024). - *Women's economic participation* could boost *Pakistan's GDP* by *$50 billion* (*World Bank*, 2024). - *Rwanda's GDP* grew by *7.5%* annually after implementing *gender equality* measures (*IMF*, 2024). - *Chile's women entrepreneurs* contribute *$25 billion* to the economy (*OECD*, 2024). - *Bangladesh's female garment workers* comprise *80%* of the *$40 billion* textile industry (*ILO*, 2024). # *MCQs from the Article*: ### 1. *What percentage of Pakistan's women are in the formal labour force?* A. 30% *B. 25%* C. 20% D. 35% ### 2. *Which country became the first to have a female majority in parliament?* A. Vietnam *B. Rwanda* C. Bangladesh D. Chile ### 3. *What could advancing gender equality add to global GDP by 2025 according to McKinsey?* A. $10 trillion *B. $12 trillion* C. $15 trillion D. $8 trillion ### 4. *At what age was TikToker Sana Yousaf murdered?* A. 16 *B. 17* C. 18 D. 19 ### 5. *Where did Pakistan rank in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025?* A. 140th B. 145th *C. Last among 148 nations* D. 130th # *VOCABULARY*: 1. *Relegated* (کم درجہ دینا) – Assigned to a lower position 2. *Perseverance* (استقلال) – Persistence in doing something despite difficulties 3. *Gruesome* (خوفناک) – Causing repugnance or horror 4. *Slighted* (نظرانداز کیا گیا) – Insulted by being treated without proper respect 5. *Indifference* (لاتعلقی) – Lack of interest or concern 6. *Misogyny* (عورت دشمنی) – Hatred or dislike of women 7. *Incel* (غیر رضاکار برہماچاری) – Involuntarily celibate person 8. *Normalising* (معمول بنانا) – Making something standard or typical 9. *Shunned* (مسترد کرنا) – Persistently avoided or rejected 10. *Valiant* (بہادر) – Showing courage or determination 11. *Nought* (کچھ نہیں) – Nothing or zero 12. *Feted* (خوشی منانا) – Honored or celebrated 13. *Strides* (پیش قدمی) – Significant progress or improvement 14. *Diaspora* (بیرون ملک مقیم) – People scattered from their homeland 15. *Subsidies* (سبسڈی) – Financial assistance or support 16. *Entrepreneurship* (کاروباری) – Business activity or enterprise 17. *SME* (چھوٹے اور درمیانے ادارے) – Small and Medium Enterprises 18. *Innovation* (جدت) – Introduction of new ideas or methods 19. *Revive* (بحالی) – Restore to life or consciousness 20. *Safeguard* (محفوظ رکھنا) – Protect from harm or damage 📢 *Attention Please!* We appreciate your commitment to acquiring knowledge through our summaries. 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Click the link below to join now 🔗 [Dawn Article Summaries](https://cssmcqs.com/dawn-editorials-articles-summary-for-students-pdf-download/) *WhatsApp Channel Link*: [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y) --- *www.dawn.com* *A woman's worth* *Muna Khan* *5 - 6 minutes* I WAS editing The Review in the early 2000s when Tahir Mirza moved to Dawn, Karachi, to take up the position of news editor and our magazine's supervisor. I learned a lot from him, mainly how to think about issues — what's new here and/or why should I care? He helped me submit my first editorial on how fashion weeks could boost the economy. We had not had a fashion week in the country yet. On the face of it, it was about fashion, a topic usually relegated to the magazine — ie, 'not serious' — but because I wrote about it from an economics angle, it worked. A year later, I was transferred to the leader writing team (a lesson on perseverance, kids) where my supervisors taught me more about how to write, especially when it's about the same issue. What more can you say about (insert act of injustice) without sounding like a broken record? Sometimes you have no choice but to bang that drum. It is with this in mind that I thought about the murder of the TikToker Sana Yousaf, shot dead on her 17th birthday by a man slighted by her indifference. I have nothing to add to the voices condemning this gruesome act, but I'm taking a cue from Mirza sahib when I ask, 'what's new here?' No country has reached gender equality. Nothing. But a new approach is needed. Nothing can change unless people and corporations stop profiting from misogyny. Influencers like Andrew Tate speak against women, corrupting young boys and normalising incel culture, while leaders like Imran Khan say men are not robots and our TV dramas glamorise gender-based violence. These views must be shunned and challenged, not promoted. There should be no money in misogyny. Women just haven't been seen as valuable members of society who can contribute to the country's growth. Spare me the stories about the valiant female heroes who fought for this country's independence. I am not denying their contribution, but retelling their stories amounts to nought when Pakistan is not a safe country for women. We need to count the cost of women dropping out of the workforce, or not even making it to the workforce because they do not feel safe. Only 25 per cent of Pakistan's women are in the formal labour force, according to the Asian Development Bank. When a woman steps out of her home to earn an income, like Sana Yousaf may have been attempting to do as a content creator — a fine career option — she may be killed and her death feted by men on social media. No country can progress if its women lag behind. No country has reached gender equality, and no country seems to make that its priority. In 2015, McKinsey estimated that advancing gender equality could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025. While that has not happened, some countries have made strides in the last few decades. After the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, policymakers made gender equality a priority in their quest to rebuild their country. A 30pc quota for women in all state decision-making bodies was included in their constitution. It became the first country in the world to have a female majority in parliament. Six of the country's 11 banks are run by women, according to a story in Le Monde last year. Women-owned businesses significantly contribute to the country's economy. Earlier, governments invited highly skilled diaspora to return to rebuild their country. (The less said about our diaspora, the better.) This has happened in 30 years. I have written extensively about Vietnam's progress following the American War, where they too created quotas and made great efforts to improve women's access to education and work opportunities. Last year, 69.1pc of women were in the labour force. We can also learn from Bangladesh, which invested in women from the get go. They recognised their future was tied to women's independence and participation in the labour force, which grew steadily to 44pc last year. To increase women's participation in the labour force, Chile's education reforms included childcare subsidies, which enabled mothers to work. Their participation rate has grown since 1990 to 52pc. Chile introduced entrepreneurship as a central economic development strategy and saw women's entrepreneurship grow. This contributed to SME growth and innovation, making Chile one of the fastest-growing and most stable economies in South America. As I was writing this on Thursday, news came that Pakistan ranked last among 148 nations in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025. In 2023, the IMF said "narrowing the gap between the share of men and women who work is one of the very important reforms policymakers can make to revive economies". Maybe that will prompt leaders to safeguard our lives, and their future. The writer is an instructor of journalism. Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2025