Women are as powerful as men in Western societies. Unlike Pakistani women, they are not constrained by any socio-cultural constraints.
Undoubtedly, women are powerful agents of change. However, it is unclear why empowered women who can be agents of change for Pakistani society are not accepted in this country. The land of the pure has become almost intolerable for Pakistani women, which is very unfortunate in a country where men take things for granted upon grounds the most absurd.
We are part of a society which hates women: in the male-dominated Pakistani culture, even the mere celebration of women rights is not encouraged. Men in Pakistan are not likely to give away their culturally superior image and roles because doing so would mean they are inferior to the opposite gender.
Undoubtedly, women are powerful agents of change. However, it is unclear why empowered women who can be agents of change for Pakistani society are not accepted in this country
Unfortunately, men cannot be ‘torchbearers of equality’ in Pakistan when it comes to respecting women and offering them equal rights. As for as women’s empowerment in South Asia is concerned, Pakistan ranks on top in the region with respect to women rights as human rights or human rights agenda more broadly. A number of organisations working for women rights have failed to highlight the issue effectively, for they are more focused on the slogan of empowering them rather than making efforts to actually implement their plans.
It’s appalling how women are treated in this region. We have never supported women in their fight to obtain equal rights. Rather, our apathy in this regard reflects through our inability to support women who are not only making efforts to fight culturally acceptable gender roles but are also making attempts to highlight issues which men face in our society. For us, the respected woman can only be a mother, sister, daughter, and wife. Generally, women in other gender roles are not respected in our society.
While women living in rural areas of the country face domestic violence, women who are part of the country’s urban population also face enormous issues ranging from domestic violence, gender inequality, and education to healthcare.
On the other hand, spaces and areas where women have the liberty to work alongside men, they have to face serious issues like harassment and unequal payment. This culture of ill-treatment only discourages women and ultimately leads to women quitting jobs and taking on more traditional and acceptable social and cultural roles. Moreover, such state can not only traumatize women but can also create further barriers in the way of their material well-being.
We are part of a society which hates women: in the male-dominated Pakistani culture, even the mere celebration of women rights is not encouraged. Men in Pakistan are not likely to give away their culturally superior image and roles because doing so would mean they are inferior to the opposite gender
In our culture, a woman struggles her whole life in the pursuit of an environment where she doesn’t have to take dictation from anyone. Beyond the culturally acceptable roles of mother and wife, women should be accepted in other roles, such as working wife or a working mother which Pakistani society, by and large, doesn’t approve. Over half of Pakistan’s population comprises of women but it is unfortunate that they are still struggling to attain their basic human rights. Research shows that women empowerment and the role which men and women play are intricately linked to greater development outcomes in a country.
It is high time that women liberate themselves from patriarchy and take control of their bodies and lives.
The writer is a freelancer based from Badin, Pakistan and can be reached at [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, April 8th 2018.