Sir: Women motivate themselves even when there is no external motivation for them. They need to manage their own space with confidence and empowerment but that is often viewed uncomfortably by men. Men and women are not in a rat race. It is simply lack of confidence and trust that men and women fail to integrate with each other, especially after marriage. In a society like Pakistan where women are defined on the basis of cultural roles, people’s thinking needs to be upgraded to stop confining women to their cultural gender role. Men at home need to be taught right from childhood to respect women’s rights and their thinking needs to broaden. Women’s empowerment is not about having an edge over men but helping them to create a healthy, balanced lifestyle. There are too many mental barriers in positive thinking and women need to tackle them. We lack the social independence that women need to carry out their domestic and professional roles together. Many women are forced to compromise by sacrificing their professional life while their parents arrange their marriage. Only monetary need forces her to come out and work. This thinking needs to be eradicated, and women need to play a positive and constructive role in society. Positive empowerment can only be created if women are given space, are less tortured by mental hindrances and are supported by their families and society, not just the other way around. FATIMA MANSOOR Rawalpindi