Epilogue

Summary

This study concluded the ways in which women are excluded from education and from holding positions of power because of male domination across the globe. Therefore, women have limited access to public authority over their private lives. Furthermore, each theory of feminism discussed here has played a crucial role in the twenty-first century of feminist theorisation and politics, and together they constitute a source of inspiration for the future. I have described the basic exchange between feminism and Western philosophy that runs through these feminisms and their relationship. Where feminism will go from here is unclear, but the point is that feminism, by any name, is alive in academia and outside of it. Some older feminists feel discouraged by the younger generations’ seeming ignorance of or disregard for the struggles and achievements of the early movement. They see little progress (the pay gap has not significantly narrowed in 60 years) and are fearful that the new high-heeled, red-lipped college girls are letting go of hard-won gains. This, however, is not likely the case. There have always been feminisms in movements, not just one ideology, and there have always been tensions, points and counterpoints. The political, social and intellectual feminist movements have always been chaotic, multivalent and disconcerting, and let's hope they continue to be so; it's a sign that they are thriving. I concluded that economic classes, language of instructions and parental education patterns were the reinforcing elements for the women of Pukhtunkhwa to access higher education. The upper and upper-middle-class women were confident of continuing higher education if they wanted to. Women of Pukhtunkhwa preferred marriage over higher education. Career was not their priority or was the second option and even then only in the fields of medicine and teaching. If a choice between a career and higher education was available to them, they would choose higher education. It was surprising that the women in contemporary Pukhtunkhwa were happy to give all the decision-making power to their family men because a lack of training made them hesitant to decide their future. However, on the other hand, they do demand women-only educational institutions throughout Pukhtunkhwa.