Daily Times

The obsession to control, dominate and subjugate women has been an epidemic festering in societies forever, but it reached a new level when the Egyptian parliamentary deputy Elhami Agina demanded that university candidates, female of cource, should be subjected to tests that prove their virginity to get admission. This may have caused a definite stir that extended beyond Egyptian boarders, NGOs, politicians and women’s rights activists all condemned Angina’s statement. But when such demands are made by people in power, whether the religious scholars who prohibit women from watching football, reason given that women watch football only to ogle at men’s thighs, or such politicians as Agina, signifies a disease that affects tens of communities across the world, to degrade women.

Though the globe is full of everyday instances where even the right to exist as a human is curbed let alone the perseverance of dignity and self-respect that is being trampled on, but Muslims communities these days take the lead in making headlines when it comes to women subjugation. Reason being, that when feminist movements gain prominence, it scares people (men and women alike), and the easiest way to bring back the order of the world which is approved and convenient for them is to reinforce it, in the cloak of misinterpreted religion and culture. It’s like wolf in the guise of sheep.

Selective moral police is what irks the situation, why focus on female chastity while ignoring male’s. Why, because we are so blinded and bound by misogynist world order standing at the foundation of culture hidden in the cloak of misinterpreted religion.

Mao Zedong, or Mao Tse-tung, also known as the chairman Mao, was a Chinese communist revolutionary and founding father of the People Republic of China. Mao though a controversial figure in history due to Mass killing throughout his country, is still credited for industrialization, unified China and for having improved the status of women in the country. Back in the days before Mao, it was tradional to make daughters more desirable to a potential spouse, by breaking her feet (literally) and binding them to produce three or four inch stubs(lotus feet), suitable only for teetering around the house.

Communist Revolution under Mao set out to destroy traditional familial bonds by attacking four olds-old Ideas, Habits, Customs and Culture. Mao is the base of Chinese economic miracle, but it is the domestic and social change he brought about that supports economic advancement. This social change was brought about when Mao’s introduced new laws in 1950s. Marriage law, interdict many harsh practices directed against women, including forced marriage, dowry, bride price, child brides and gave them the right to file for divorce. As quoted in the ‘little red book’ of his writings “A man in china is generally subjected to domination of three systems of authority, political, religious and family. As for women in addition to being dominated by these three systems of authority they are also dominated by men. These four authorities, political, family, religion and masculine are the embodiment of the whole feudal-patriarchal ideology and system”

In 1955 he made sure as a president of Peoples Republic of China that men and women receive equal pay for equal work. “Women Hold up Half of the Sky” by Mao, affirms not only women’s abilities equals man but also her fundamental role in society.

Women’s rights movement permanently changed the national spirit in regard to role of woman and its legacy remains embedded in the society to this day, consequently the unfathomable economic growth of the country where the female population that was rendered useless before, broke the cultural shackles with the help of revolutionary Laws of Mao, and began contributing towards the progress of the society. Many elements of old Chinese culture survived the drastic changes and are still interwoven in the fabrication of the modern society. Respect of elders, cherishing kids and family systems are still a part of the new china.

So when a case of Vani, a cultural custom in various parts of Pakistan, that enforces marriages of young girls as a punishment for a crime committed by their male relatives, is highlighted or when people like Agina advocate female genital mutilation in Egypt, reflecting culture that is inbred with sexist and patriarchal beliefs, calls for a Mao. Mao referred to women oppression as “feudal patriarchy”. This tyranny is based on beliefs that are shaped by conservatives and radicals alike. Many declare women’s rights as western imports, though these rights are priority for a healthy society, devoid of humiliating practices against half of its population.

The history of women has not followed a straight line from misery to progress; it has been going in circles, maneuvering around pain and confinement. To silence the upholder of these misogynist patterns, we need a revolutionary (man or woman), who enforces laws that curbs the despotism against women. Laws that demolish any obstacle that stands in the way of progressing women, whether it be culture, norms, customs or traditions.

The writer is Opinion-Editorial Head at Daily Times Lahore, tweets@ erum_yawar and can be reached at erumyawar@gmail.com