
Centre of Excellence for Women's Studies
Introduction
Director: Prof. Dr. Asma Manzoor.
The centre was established as a project in 1989 by the Ministry of Women Development, Government of Pakistan. For the last 21 years CEWS has had a special appeal for students from all over the country. The first M.A in Women’s Studies in Pakistan began in 1996 at the University of Karachi. In 2002 Centre initiated M.Phil / Ph.D program. From 2004 the discipline of Women’s Studies was introduced as a subsidiary course at First Year (Hons.) level. From January 2007 BS (Hons.) 4 years program was launched and from January 2010 M.A (Evening) program has also started. Innovative courses and seminars offered at the Centre, and research conducted here, aims at generating a functional knowledge base with the purpose of identifying hitherto under-used and neglected human resources for national growth.
Career Opportunities
Majority of CEWS graduates are now placed at various administrative positions in NGOs, International Welfare Organizations, Research Organizations, Planning and Development, Government, Semi-Government, Private Organizations and Teaching both at the local and national level. CEWS give priority to its students and employ as cooperative teachers and research associates. Along with this, Graduates of the Centre are working in different International, National and other organizations such as Ministry of Women and Development (MoWD) Islamabad, Women and Development Department (WDD) Sindh, Sindh University (Jamshoro), Karrakurum University, Social Policy Development Centre (SPDC), Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP), World Wild Life Fund (WWF). They are also working in NGOs like Aurat Foundation, Shirkat Gah, War Against Rape (WAR), Health Oriented Preventive Education (HOPE), Madadgar, Pakistan Institution of Labour Education and Research (PILER), Labour Education Foundation (LEF), Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), Society for the Advancement of Community Health, Education and Training (SACHET), Inter Press Communication (IPC), Rozan, etc.
Faculty
- Prof. Dr. Asma Manzoor
- Dr. Shagufta Nasreen (Assoc. Prof.)
- Dr. Aliyah Ali (Assoc. Prof.)
- Ms. Dua-e-Rehma
- Syed Faisal Hashmi
- Dr. Seema Manzoor (T)
Programs
Eligibility
B.S. & Honors : Intermediate or equivalent
M.A (Evening) : Graduation
M.S. : Masters or BS (Hons.) or equivalent
Courses for BS (Hons.) 4 years Programme
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester (Jan.-May) | Second Semester (July-Nov.) |
| 311- Introduction to Women’s Studies 300.1- (I.S) Islamic Studies (Compulsory) 300.1- (E) English (Compulsory) |
312- Women’s History in South Asia 300.2- (P.S) Pakistan Studies (Comp) 300.2- (U/S) Urdu/Sindhi/Natural Sc. (Comp) |
| Second Year | |
| Third Semester | Fourth Semester |
| 411- Women’s Movement in Global Perspective 421- Economic, Political and Social Aspects of Women’s Lives 400.1- (B.M) Basic Maths (Compulsory) 400.1- (E) English (Compulsory) |
412- Social Construct of Gender 422- Women Sports and Physical Education 400.2- (ES) Everyday Sc. (Comp) 400.1- (E) Computer Applications (Compulsory) |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Fifth Semester | Sixth Semester |
| 501- Environmental Science 511- Gender & Development International Strategies 521- Feminist Research-I 531- Women in Islam 541- Women & Environment 551- Women & Politics |
502- Communication Skills 512- Women & Dev. in the Third World Countries 522- Feminist Research-II 532- Women & Health 542- Women & Work 552- Practicum |
| Fourth Year | |
| Seventh Semester | Eighth Semester |
| 601- Introduction to Statistics/ Management 611- Women & Law in Pakistan-I 621- Women & Media 631- Psychology of Women 641- Gender & Dev. Planning in Pakistan 651- Thesis |
612- Community Development 622- Women & Law in Pakistan-II 632- Violence against Women 642- Women Technology & Entrepreneurship 652- Women in World Religion 662- Thesis |
M.A Morning & Evening Programme
| (M.A Previous) | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Second Semester |
| WS 511- Introduction to Women’s Studies WS 521- Feminist Research- I WS 531-Women’s History in South Asia WS 541- Social Construct of Gender WS 551- Gender & Development- International Strategies |
WS 512- Women’s Movement in Global Perspective WS 522- Feminist Research-II WS 532- Women in Islam WS 542- Women & Environment WS 552- Women & Development in the Third World Countries |
| (M.A Final) | |
| Third Semester | Fourth Semester |
| WS 611- Women and Law in Pakistan-I WS 621- Women and Health WS 631- Women and Media WS 641- Women and Work WS 651- Research Project / Report |
WS 612- Women and Law in Pakistan II WS 622- Women Technology and Entrepreneurship WS 632- Psychology of Women WS 642- Women and Development planning in Pakistan WS 652- Research Project / Report |
Courses offered in BS (Hons.) Subsidiary
♀ Introduction to Women’s Studies (WS-301)
♀ Women in Muslim countries (WS-302)
♀ Gender and Development: Global Perspective (WS-401)
♀ Gender and Development in Pakistan (WS-402)
List of M.Phil Courses
| S. No. | Course No | Course Titles of 1st Semester |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WS-711 | Research Methodology: Interpreting the Data |
| 2 | WS-731 | Introduction to Women’s Studies (Students of BS women’s studies can take “(WS-761) Gender and Development in Pakistan” in Lieu of this course) |
| 3 | WS-741 | Anthropology: Sex & Gender in Anthropological Perspective |
| 4 | WS-751 | Women in South Asian History |
| Course Titles of 2nd Semester | ||
| 1 | WS-712 | Feminism and Feminist Research |
| 2 | WS-721 | Communication Skills |
| 3 | WS-722 | Women and Work: Strategies for Women Empowerment |
| 4 | WS-732 | Women in Islam and in the Contemporary World |
List of Ph.D Courses
| S. No. | Course Titles |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rural Women in Pakistan: Development and Poverty Alleviation |
| 2 | Feminism, Social and Cultural Theories |
| 3 | Women in Cross Societal Perspective |
Aims
Some of the aims of the Centre are to:
-
Enhance the participation of women in mainstream national development through an effective and judicious use of information technology;
-
Create a better understanding of the scope and concepts of Women’s Studies in the context of Pakistan;
-
Critically analyze the status and role of women, both historically and contemporaneously;
-
Stimulate a dialogue on the status of women in Muslim societies, particularly in Pakistan, to help develop a better comprehension of faith, belief, traditions, and myths;
-
Critically evaluate development approaches and strategies as they affect women in particular and the society in general;
-
Help develop sustainable strategies for combating health, poverty, and environmental hazards; Enable students step into the practical life with trust in their potential as change makers.
Research
Publications
- Pakistan Journal of Gender Studies
- Directory of Self-Employed Women of Karachi.
- Female Home–based Workers: The Silent Work Force funded by ILO, 2003.
- Trafficking of Women & Children in South Asia & Within Pakistan: A National Study, A Project of LHRLA supported by CIDA-Pakistan, 2000.
- Challenge for Change: Literacy for the Girl of Today, the Women of Tomorrow, 1995.
- Directory of Experts & Resource Persons in Women &Development in Pakistan, 1994.
| 2012 | Women Issues: Analytical Researches Compiled by: Nasreen Aslam Shah Language: English Pages: 138 Price: PK. Rs. 100/- Publisher: Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies ISBN: 978 – 969 – 9453 – 05 – 2 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Karachi Kay Nu Umar Mehnatkash Bachchey Aur Bachchiyan: Ek Jaiza. Compiled by: Nasreen Aslam Shah Language: Urdu Pages: 153 Price: PK. Rs. 150/- Publisher: Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies, Anjuman-i-Taraqqi-i-Niswan & University of Karachi ISBN: 978 – 969 – 9453 – 02 – 1 |
| 2011 | Bridging the Gaps: Research at the Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies, Compiled by: Nasreen Aslam Shah Language: English & Urdu Pages: 175 Price: PKR. Rs. 150/- Publisher: Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies, Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Niswan and University of Karachi ISBN: 978 – 969 – 9453 – 04 – 5 |
| 2011 | Directory of Alumni of the Department of Social Work and the Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies, University of Karachi. Compiled by: Nasreen Aslam Shah Language: English Pages: 153 Price: PK. Rs. 100/- Publisher: Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies, Dept. of Social Work, Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Niswan and University of Karachi ISBN: 978 – 969 – 9453 – 03 – 8 |
| 2010 | Pakistan Mein Self-Employed Women: Ek Jaiza Compiled by: Nasreen Aslam Shah Language: Urdu Pages: 87 Price: PK. Rs. 100/- Publisher: Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies, Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Niswan and University of Karachi. ISBN: 978 – 969 – 9453 – 01 – 4 |
| 2010 | Directory of Self-Employed Women of Karachi. Compiled by: Nasreen Aslam Shah Language: Urdu & English Pages: 563 Price: PK. Rs. 600/- Publisher: Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies, Dept. of Social Work, Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Niswan and University of Karachi. ISBN: 978 – 969 – 9453 – 00 – 7 |
| 2008 | Pakistan Journal of Gender Studies Vol: I – V, 8 March, 2008 onwards Edited by: Nasreen Aslam Shah Language: English & Urdu Price: PK. Rs. 250/- Publisher: Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies. ISSN: 2072 – 0394 |
| 2004 | Karachi ki Gadagar Larkiyan: Ek Jaiza Compiled by: Nasreen Aslam Shah Language: Urdu Pages: 152 Price: PK. Rs. Publisher: Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies, University of Karachi and Higher Education Commission |
| 2003 | Female Home-Based Workers: The Silent Workforce. Edited by: Khalida Ghaus Language: English Pages: 83 Publisher: ILO and Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies, University of Karachi. |
| 1998 | Directory of Experts and Resource Persons in Women and Development in Pakistan Edited by: Prof. Dr. Tahera Aftab Language: English Publisher: Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies, University of Karachi. |
| 1995 | Literacy for the Girl of Today, the Woman of Tomorrow Edited by: Tahera Aftab Language: English Publisher: Centre of Excellence for Women’s Studies, University of Karachi. |
M.A. Theses Titles
View titles here
Facilities
The library has about 4000 books, encyclopedia, periodicals, rare books, journals, reports, bibliographies and other official documents. The library maintains press clippings on themes related to women in Pakistan. It also has a separate collection on Madar-e-Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah.
Events
Seminars / Workshops and other Activities
- 2012
- One day training workshop “Gender Sensitization of Non Teaching Staff of University of Karachi” 5th May, 2012
- Celebrated Women’s Day, 8th March at departmental level.
- 2011
- Participated and exhibited Centre’s Publications in “Re- Engineering Pakistan” at Karachi EXPO Centre.
- One day seminar celebrated on 8th March “Karachi Kay Nu Umar Mehnatkash Bachchey Aur Bachchiyan: Ek Jaiza”.
- 2010
- One day seminar celebrated on 8th March “Towards Self Reliance: The Role of Self-Employed Women of Pakistan”.
- 2009
- Three days training work-shop on “Gender Mainstream- ing in Project Cycle” in collaboration with Semiotics Consultant and ECI Private Ltd. Funded by ADB.
- Interactive dialogue on “Civic Activism for Youth” in collaboration with HEC and Centre for Civic Education (CCE).
- One day seminar celebrated on 7th March “The Self- Employed Women and their Families: Experiences from the Towns of Karachi”.
- 2008
- Celebrated Women’s Day, 8th March at departmental level.
- 2007
- One day seminar on “Khud Ikhtiari Khawateen Ki Muashi Taraqqi:Town Nazmeen Ka Kirdar” funded by HEC and organized in collaboration with the Anjuman-e-Taraqqi-e-Niswan.
Contact
For further information please contact
Centre of Excellence for Women's Studies
University of Karachi, Karachi - 75270
Tel: 99261300-6 Ext: 2441 Direct #: 99261654
Email: cews@uok.edu.pk, cewsku@yahoo.com






