In a world where 1 in 5 women under the age of 50 have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner/spouse in the past 12 months; the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with 17 transformative goals , 169 targets and 230 indicators ; adopted by the 193 countries of the UN General Assembly,are weaving an opportunity for each one of us especially feminists to look at it as almost a global victory for gender equality.
All awakened dreamers can at least cherish the imagination to live in an inclusive world with peaceful societies , just institutions and a clean environment; a world where no one is hungry, poor, illiterate and ill; and where all are equal and the farthest will be the first to reach as human rights and gender equality are core principles of this courageous and ambitious agenda.
UN Women in 2018 , took stock of where we stand on essential facets of gender equality globally through a report “Turning Promises Into Action Gender Equality In The 2030 Agenda For Sustainable Development ” supported by the German Government. This eye-opening report reinforced that Gender equality is imperative to delivering on the promise of the 2030 Agenda. In the foreword of the said report, the Secretary General, UN, HE Guterres stated that as long as women are economically and socially disempowered in the world of work and in their homes and communities, growth will not be inclusive, and we will not succeed in ending poverty.
What does this mean to Pakistan and its women? While the volume of problems and layers of discrimination carried by our women from different age groups, geographical belt and socioeconomic classes and those having different sets of physical disabilities, gender identity and or a divorced or abandoned status do vary it remains a fact that a vast majority of women are bound to survive an extremely unsupportive environment within the family and in the public spheres.
What happens to women who somehow break all barriers and/or due to economic hostilities land into formal workplaces to earn? The available data shows that only 25% of Pakistani women (total female labour force participation is 25%) with a university degree work outside the home. The data though not vocal on the age of marriage and or marital status of these women, on their unmet need for family planning does reflect on the barriers to pursue a career of their choice. One of the critical reasons with policy implications is that women face controls on their mobility outside the home and some intersected dynamics in this regard include social, cultural and religious norms, safety and crime and the quality of available transport services. In a world filled with inequalities, Pakistan, is an interesting case for studying paradoxical and puzzling patterns of empowerment and advancement. Our country in spite of having a number of inspirational women in the fields of arts, sports, academia, trade and commerce is predominantly characterized by systemic and structural patriarchy amply garnished with toxic masculinity and hypocrisies.
For too long abusive Power-friendly interpretation of Culture and Religion has been used as tools for oppressing women. Let’s try to look at these with gender lens to enable men (trans men included) to become confident that empowered women (trans women included) are not meant to disempower them
The personal protection as a persistent concern even for those women who are liberal, fearless, confident and urban are not going away. Today Pakistani Women are unsafe in home, unsafe at bus stops, unsafe inside a public transport and when they reach a workplace, they remain unsafe there too irrespective of the standing and stature of that organization.
Even an ideal state of governance and uninterrupted supply of monetary resources cannot solve instantly all issues faced by women. We need additional and stronger pro-women legislation ( luckily many regions have some with or without lacunae benefitting misogyny), rule of law, enabling systems to ensure access of women to legal aid and continued behaviour and social change communication, across the country. Our society is witnessing a huge transition in rituals due to influx of mass media that is accessible to rural women as well and is talking about domestic violence, rape, son preference, dowry systems, child sexual abuses etc.; younger women are claiming their spaces by riding bikes, doing adventure sports and becoming entrepreneurs and international aid and technical organizations are focusing the youth that constitutes almost 65% of this 5th most populous country. A lot of vigorous, thoughtful and passionate efforts are required by the state and the society to attain a sustainable state of status quo change and obviously this would take time and a longer than required time in the challenging political, economic and social contexts of the land.
Does this provide a justifiable excuse to look away from some terrifying trials and torments borne by women on daily basis in an official setup outside their homes? It should be a No. My learnings suggest that women need a rest room ( with locks and a dust bin with a lid for sanitary pads) ,a well-equipped day care ( single moms need them more and lets accept that we have growing number of single divorced and or abandoned moms in the land of pure-men too consider using day care as a part of joint parenting), flexible working hours and an empathetic anti-harassment, mobbing and bullying task force. The ultimate end of getting gender equality needs gender main streaming that by no means replace the need for targeted, women-specific policies and programmes or positive legislation.
Our governments with the partnership of private sector and engagement of technocrats and civil society representatives can issue the needed ordinances/by laws , ensure budget allocations followed by its actual implementation through oversight mechanisms for all institutions where women work or can be inducted. Women at workplaces need an anxiety, threat and depression free environ to demonstrate their full potentials. These arrangements too will not eliminate many preventable forms of problems( not only for women but men as well) but it would create trust about our political leadership and give an excellent image to the country. For too long abusive Power-friendly interpretation of Culture and Religion has been used as tools for oppressing women. Let’s try to look at these with gender lens to enable men (trans men included) to become confident that empowered women (trans women included) are not meant to disempower them.
The author is a feminist and a former TV anchor & Producer