- And countrywomen too, of course
This week I had intended to write on a topic closer to my heart, but the ongoing feminism hoo-ha has put paid to that. So much for intentions! I could still have gone ahead and get that published, of course, but something tells me that with passions soaring and tempers flying my piece on the contribution of the moustache to human civilization is unlikely to get the kind of attention a subject like that deserves. It will therefore be more befitting to share my two cents on the big feminism debate going on in the country. In what follows, then, are some sincere suggestions for those feminists who really want to improve the lot of women, as opposed to cheap fame or some such vested interest. There may be some things the feminists won’t like, but they are requested to consider them, nevertheless. For, if the goal happens to be a happier and more just society (as it is advertised to be), I am squarely on your side.
If Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar being the leading ‘light’ in the camp opposing you isn’t a credit to that camp, Marvi Sirmed being the leading ‘intellect’ in your camp isn’t a credit to your camp either.
1. Mera jism meri marzi is well and truly tainted now. There’s a genuine concern on the part of feminists that the slogan is often taken to mean more than what they intend by it. And I am sure at least some of them sincerely believe so. ‘My body, my choice’ (whose lazy translation it is) is a pro-choice slogan imported from the West which means much more than most of our feminists would explicitly admit fighting for. With this sort of baggage, and our own feminists having added some more of their own for good measure, you have two options: Keep repeating it like a broken record (which your opponents would love you to do, so that they can keep pouncing on it); or come up with a more sensible alternative, one that is more representative of your movement. You can surely come up with an original slogan, can’t you? Again, I am assuming that helping women, instead of creating controversy, is the goal here.
2. When you focus on the body so much, as opposed to brains, you give your detractors the opportunity to point out that you think the latter to be less important. Now that may not be true in many cases; but in all fairness, as things stand today, if one takes away from the feminism movement double-meaning slogans laced with sexual innuendos, precious little is left.
3. It may also be a good idea to stop making fun of those who don’t see eye-to-eye with you. Nobody wants to be portrayed a fool. Besides, when you assume somebody is unaware of some very basic things, that person only thinks you are living in a fool’s paradise. If the goal is to have people on your side, as opposed to sounding smart, then the strategy isn’t working. I am assuming that at least some of you are in this for more than the gratification of your ego.
4. Your slogans make it seem as though sexual exploitation is the only form of exploitation faced by women. By keeping the financial and social exploitation of women in the background, you are guilty of grossly oversimplifying the situation.
5. If Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar being the leading ‘light’ in the camp opposing you isn’t a credit to that camp, Marvi Sirmed being the leading ‘intellect’ in your camp isn’t a credit to your camp either. Leaving aside the dogmatic crowd on either side, she will do nothing to make your cause appeal to those who have yet to make up their minds one way or the other – in fact, quite the contrary. The only way to change that is to come up with saner representation that will put the Sirmeds in the background where they belong. That is something nobody can do for you from the outside. You will have to do it yourself.
6. It’s all very well to claim (on placards and on social media pages) that you can change a flat tire. How about walking the talk, for a change? The next time you ask your husband/brother/son to open the lid of a jar for you, or troubleshoot the water heater, or fix the door-bell, remember that you are harming the cause of feminism and letting your comrades down in the process.
7. There’s no law against women marches, of course. Those who moved the court to stop people from participating in them are clowns (to put it mildly). But also remember that there’s no law against making a fool of oneself either. There’s nothing ‘enlightened’ about merely participating in a march. In fact, some of the things said and done in these marches suggest the exact opposite.
8. Freedom of expression is a double-edged sword. If you are entitled to it, then your opponents are entitled to it as well. Don’t play the victim when that happens.
9. The ‘You were rude to a woman’ whining needs to stop. Nobody should be rude to anybody – man, woman or child. Besides, isn’t this whole campaign about equality of men and women? Well, one perception about men is that they are tough (whether they really are, is a debate for another time). Claiming to be equal to men but crying foul the moment the going starts getting tough is akin to having your cake and eating it too. Which is it? Are you, or are you not, equal to men? It would help immensely to make up your mind one way or the other.
10. If you succeed in realizing your aims (whatever those are) it won’t be by lip service and sloganeering alone. To those who think putting up women-march DP filters makes a telling contribution to the cause, I would say think again. And ditto for those ‘rebels’ who find no cause or slogan silly enough not to immediately get on the bandwagon of. I earnestly hope these two demographics are not all that the feminists have.
