Now, it has been internationally recognised/acknowledged that the prime reason behind the torture/violence against women is their socially and economically weak and degraded status. The roots of this phenomenon are deeply set in the male-dominant social system, which has existed for years and makes males the influential gender. The deep-rooted influence of the male-dominant social system, which gives a human the right to consider himself superior from other humans. Otherwise, it’s beyond the thought of a person that how a person holds the right to control another person? Since both persons have identical abilities, mindfulness and feelings, how can one be superior from another; only based on physical differences?
The situation is not limited to men and women only. Transgenders also have to face, sometimes even more severe, consequences of gender violence. If we look around, the difference starts with the births of boys and girls in our households. All this becomes more powerful as they grow older and that’s why we say that a five-year-old boy would be able to protect a girl or even a fully-grown woman.
We have to think why a girl can’t go outside her home like boys to play, study, meet her friends or for any other work? Why can’t a woman fulfil her dreams and expectations? Why does she have to settle on someone else’s decision?
The answers to such and many other similar questions will lead us to the conclusion that the male-dominant system provides a certificate to men of our society to mistreat women whenever and wherever they want. Meanwhile, the women’s duty remains to silently bear the brunt of misconducts of men. She has become a machine, which can bear every social cruelty, including the ignorance by men, domestic violence and sexual abuse. In the same way, the same system puts a veil of honour on men’s eyes in such a way that they forget to treat women respectfully, lovingly and even humanely. Not only this, the society has made women so powerless/helpless that they consider male-dominancy the right of men. They also think that if they would stand up against men’s orders, they will be counted as sinful and might be punished on the day of judgment.
According to a survey, titled, “Multi Culture Indicator Survey Sindh,” conducted by the Sindh government, with the collaboration of UNICEF, in 2014, “49 % of women aged between 15 to 49 years consider the violence of their men righteous if it’s done for following five reasons:
The male-dominant system provides a certificate to men to mistreat women whenever and wherever they want
1. If a woman goes out of the home without seeking permission from her man.
2. If a woman fails to take care of her children.
3. If a woman argues with her man.
4. If a woman refuses for sex.
5. If a woman overcooks the food.”
Now think about this. What is left behind for the women to spend a respectable life in this society? Such bad behaviours of men towards women are not formed in one day but there has been a decades-long struggle of powerful groups and individuals behind fashioning this menace. The entire social, political and economic structure has been assisting in promoting the culture of violence and injustice against women. If we only go through the facts and figures of government entities and review the news items being published in daily newspapers, we would come to know how unfairly and asymmetrically have the system and mindset of men been making the lives of women hell.
From restricting them from going to schools for study to early marriages; forced marriages; forced conversions of religion; poor healthcare; unavailability of family planning facilities; sexual abuse and even honour killings, these poor women have been facing the unfairness of both the society and the state.
The same survey further stated, “Only 25% girls can get education up to matriculation level while the second most horrible show can be seen in early age marriages of girls where 31% girls’ marriages take place before completion of their 18 years.”
In such deplorable circumstances, we have to think about the means, which can provide women with social and gender equality and all due respect and rights. Prosperity and development goals can’t be achieved by keeping more than half of the population deaf, dumb and blind. If we want to develop Pakistan, we have to bring an end to injustice and violence against women, girls and every weak group in the society. In this regard, we have to make a start from our own homes by making the environment livable for women there and by realising that all humans are equal. Every gender has an equal right to live freely.
It’s also important here to understand that the steps taken individually haven’t left a long-lasting impact. Therefore, we have to perform jointly by putting all our efforts to empower and encourage women in society.
The writer is a freelance contributor