The term “Feminism” describes political, cultural and economic movements aims at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women. In its real essence, feminism deals with equality between the sexes, but the term has been misunderstood in Pakistan to a considerable degree, which has introduced the country to irreparable losses.
The history of feminism dates back to nineteenth century. Feminism kicked off in the West in 1848; in New Zealand in 1893; in the UK in 1918; in the subcontinent in 1935; and in the US in 1920.
However, globalization and modern information technology materialized the very purposes of feminism in twentieth century. In 2012, feminism got much more support in the world in general and in Pakistan in particular with the blessing of social media. Social media enabled women not only to amplify their voices against rapists, harassers, domestic violence and anti-women policies but also to occupy a respectable status in society.
Basically, there are two types of feminism: secular feminism and Islamic feminism, the former has nothing to do with any religion, but the latter is bound to Islam and its teachings. In secular western feminism, an agency, organization, institution or a company is considered boss for women; while, in modern Islamic feminism, for women, there is no concept of boss at all. In Islamic feminism, mothers, wives, daughters and sisters enjoy as equal rights and status as that of their men counterparts.
Secular feminism has industrialized women’s body, but Islamic feminism deals with gender equality. Secular western mindset is afraid of giving women the status of mother, sister, daughter and wife, because after falling in such holy relationships, women become equal shareholders in the property and wealth of their men counterparts. That is why, in the West, secular feminism took roots with the help of patriarchal corridors.
Under modern Islamic feminism, women have nothing to do with any particular regional or Muslim culture, rather they are bound only to the Quran and Prophetic teachings. Unfortunately, Deep-rooted pre-Islamic cultural mores and the misinterpretation of Islam turned the Muslim world in general and Pakistan in particular into a flaming inferno. Patriarchy, theocracy and tribalism also loom large in Pakistan, and here women are still deprived of right to inheritance, voting, abortion, maternity leaves, equal pay, job opportunities and right to protest against exploiters.
Patriarchy-centered literature and men-oriented films and dramas have also disseminated the perception that women are inferior to their men fellows.
In Pakistan, women have no hurdles in achieving their soft status: the status of sisterhood, daughterhood, motherhood and wifehood.
While, they have great difficulties in restoring their hard status: the status of decision maker, teacher, reformer or a bread winner.
Women have been vulnerable being in the world since the day one. Women being have never been treated as human being at all.
First of all, Pak-India partition took the lives of nearly 80000 women, then Zia era proved a penitentiary for them. However, PPP preferred liberal feminism to radical feminism and Gen Musharraf gave women a significant share in politics.
Women make half of the population (48.76%) of Pakistan, but it ranks 151 out of 153 in the world and 7th out of seven in Asia regarding Gender Gap Index.
Similarly, Pakistan ranks 117 out of 126 regarding social justice. 28pc women of the country are suffering from domestic violence. Only 25pc women have participation in workfolk, and their literacy rate is 47pc. According to UNICEF, 18pc girls are married in minor age.
The ratio of forced marriages is 46pc and the divorce rate has risen by150 to 200pc. If women had been given their legitimate rights without resistance in time, they would not have been forced to adopt the path of such aggressive feminism today.
The above-mentioned figures manifest the sorry plight of women. If they had been treated in the line with Islamic feminism, they would not have been obsessed with secular feminism today.
In Pakistan women are considered liability or burden rather than asset, and male children are preferred to female ones. Gender apartheid and gender-based violence have become the order of the day. In Pakistan patriarchy is afraid of women, that they would replace them sooner or later.
Fatima Jinnah, Benazir Bhutto, Rana Liaqat Ali Khan, Kalsoom Nawaz, Malala Yousafzai, Belqees Edhi, Sameha Raheel Qazi, etc. are the examples of healthy and Islamic feminism in Pakistan.
Islamic feminism equips women to the teeth, but the political use of Islam tarnished the holy image of feminism in the country.
In Pakistan, feminism gets great momentum with the commencement of 8th March. Although, article 16 and 19 of the constitution give women the right to assembly and freedom of speech, due to the lack of state’s patronage, the lukewarm support of female parliamentarians towards women-folk, the idiotic wrath of fanatics and a handful anti-male slogans being uttered by a number of secularism-obsessed feminists, every year end women’s struggle in smoke.
“Mera Jism, Meri Marzi” is an advertised-for-sale slogan raised by industrialized western women. But, in Pakistan, women should not be left at the mercy of theocracy, tribalism and patriarchy at all. The distorted reputation of Aurat March also needs to be restored. The celebration of Aurat March both by female and male feminists demonstrates the fact that women are still deprived of their fundamental rights and much more needs to be done in this regard.
Observing Aurat March reminds political and religious corridors of their responsibilities and obligations towards women being.
Not too long ago, a religious political leader did not vote for a female candidate by arguing that Islam did not allow him to do so, and latter in a mass gathering, he told another female politician to sit behind stage to show respect for tribal customs.
And now-a-days, a paradigm shift has been noticed in his stance since he started running infatuatedly behind a woman for the sake of political survival. From the harsh language and shameful activities of men, women are not safe at homes, workplaces and even in assemblies. The threats of JUI-F political workers against Aurat March and the letter of Pir Noorul Haq Qadri to the premier regarding terming the March un-Islamic show the sheer frustration of the state and religious corridors as well. They are neither happy inside the homes, nor are peaceful outside the houses.
In society, they are not considered as productive or creative as men are. However, with the advent of internet, silico-sapiens, social media, globalization, AI, and 4IR, it has become easy for women to be more productive for the sake of the country. Womenomics is a strange word for Pakistanis and shecession is one of the main causes of the country’s economic crisis. Aurat March aims at ensuring the provision of women rights.
Women need pink transportation, pink toilets and all kinds of pink facilities for their protection.
In the end, although feminism in Pakistan is considered an anti-Islam wave, the active role of media, pro- women political policies and inclusive economic approach may put an end to misogynistic behaviors and patriarchy to a considerable extent. Women beings are also human beings. Women need equal rights. Usually, rights are given, otherwise snatched.
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