Perceptions About Female Emancipation in South Asia: An Empirical Comparative Study of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan

ABSTRACT This study compares attitudes towards women's emancipation in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, providing insights into their levels of female emancipation. The research utilized individual‐level micro‐data from World Values Survey (WVS) waves 3–7, occurring five times between 1995 and 2022, to address five indicators related to female emancipation, which are analysed applying descriptive statistics and regressions. The study indicates that female emancipation is generally higher in Bangladesh and India compared to Pakistan, but there is a decreasing trend in support for female emancipation in all three countries. This study recommends that policymakers prioritize education and public awareness campaigns to foster supportive attitudes towards women's rights and empowerment across the region.