In a modernized world like today’s, every nation or society tends to strive for equality and justice to avoid imbalance, for that leads to violence. Providing equal rights to minorities, acceptance of different races or classes have movements gaining some success, such as the historic struggle of African-Americans to be given the same rights as white Americans and get rid of white-supremacy. Similarly, as the world is heading towards a path of eroding disparities, feminism has also been in the limelight, which advocates equal rights for women, who are barely treated as part of male-dominated societies. To ensure their basic rights, women began to argue they are being abused by patriarchal societies, in which they are considered second-class citizens. Women and men are forced into “gender roles”. Boys are brought up to be tough, domineering, competitive, and “macho”, while girls are taught to be meek, submissive, unsure, and “feminine”. Gender differences are almost entirely learned behaviour, taught by parents and schools of a patriarchal society, leading to “gender disparity”, which is now deeply rooted in our societies.
To gain equality, women began to raise their voice against male dominance, joined consciousness-raising groups and railed against “male chauvinism”. This movement is known as “Feminism: Ideology of psychological, political, and economic equality for women”. The movement has started having an impact. Many employers now give women a fairer chance, sometimes preferring them over men in hiring. Women are moving up to higher management positions. Husbands now equally contribute in homemaking and child upbringing. With more women going to college than men, many male-dominated professions, medicine, law, business, saw an influx of women. That’s how the feminism has succeeded in most parts of the world, particularly in Europe where the women are now enjoying equal rights they had before.
What does feminism mean in Pakistan? What is the role of a female in the perception of an ordinary Pakistani? How far can Pakistani women contribute to society?
In their 2012 study Position of Pakistani Women in the 21st Century, Dr Jaweria Shahid and Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt define feminism as equality for women and freedom from gender discrimination in different aspects of life. “Feminists are those who dare to break the conspiracy of silence about oppression, unequal relationships between men and women, and who want to change it,” they write. “All feminist pursuits are aimed at social movement acquiring rights for women from society.” However, the concept of feminism in Pakistan has hit hard on such groups as conservatives or civil society organisations who disagree with the concept of this equality and feminism. In their point of view, this particular concept not only goes against Pakistani culture, but also Islam.
However, Islam is a comprehensive religion that gives women vital importance. Nevertheless, the narrow-minded and biased religious conservatives always misinterpret it to serve their own interests, trying to neglect the real soul of Islam that gives women equality in every sphere. They deliberately label feminism “vulgarity and obscenity”. Islam is often confused with our male-dominant culture, which not only pollutes the understanding of Islam on women rights, but its social practices are often misinterpreted leading to hate against it.
To successfully implement feminism in Pakistan, it is essential to embed its importance in sensitivities of culture and religion, so that it could be broad based and acceptable at the grassroots. The misinterpretation of feminism by conservative males has led to widespread hatred for it. It is of utmost importance to understand what feminism actually is. Without women having equal rights, it would be the height of naivety to dream of a developed and liberal nation.
Ever since Independence, women in Pakistan have been suffering from exploitative treatment at the hands of their male counterparts and social, economic and political constraints have made it difficult to fight for their rights. There has almost always been a backlash against those women who wish to empower themselves, whether by studying, working or even choosing their own spouse. Moreover, NGOs and other institutions striving to help oppressed women are often accused of leading them astray.Most suc women internalise their suffering, either out of fear or lack of resources to ensure their rights, and if they dare speak, then the educated upper class simply turns a blind eye by declaring their struggle a “vulgarity”.
The status of women in Pakistan varies by region and cultures. Women in urban areas have been given equal rights to some extent. However, for the most part, Pakistan has been dominated by patriarchies where women have hardly been accepted as a part of society. Their role has mostly been limited to the four walls of the home. They are meant to do home chores, bring up children, feed the family endlessle. Particularly, it’s something inherent in most of Pakistan’s middle-income societies and rural areas that people believe a woman is a second-class citizen who cannot contribute to society. Some of the major problems faced by women in Pakistan are domestic violence, honour killing, rape and abduction, marital rape, forced marriages, and induced abortions. The Global Gender Gap Index report of 2020 ranked Pakistan at 151 out of the total 153 countries. A survey carried out by Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) ranked Pakistan as sixth most dangerous country for women. These reports shows that Pakistan is among those countries where feminism has not succeeded in its goal. On the contrary, the term has been declared “vulgar” and “obscene”. Women in Pakistan make up 48.76 percent of the population according to the 2017 census, and this nation cannot climb the ladder of success with almost half the population marginalised. Phenomenal changes have taken place around the world, but the status and fate of women, particularly in areas where tribalism or feudalism still exist, is still dark. A woman has the ability to play a multiplicity of roles, societal to organizational Nonetheless, hey have been neglected by our patriarchal societies. This has directly attributed to Pakistan’s social and economic backwardness.
The Quaid-i-Azam said, “No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you; we are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners” Pakistanis are expert at quoting their legends’ words, but never bother striving for the society their legends envisioned. They also feel proud to quote the prophet (PBUH), but hardly practice what he preached. He strongly emphasized education, saying that, “It is the prime duty of men and women to acquire education.” But we are too reluctant when it comes to girls’ education. Even in the rural areas, it is considered a social taboo. Apart from this, many women are also denied the opportunity for a job. Their choices are limited due to social and cultural constraints imposed by dominant male and inherent gender biases. They also lack supportive facilities such as childcare, transport and accommodation. Women’s labour power is considered inferior because of the employer’s notion that a woman’s role is limited to her family and house.
The role a women can play to put a nation on the track of development and prosperity needs stressing. Examples of the nations which have utilized the power of women are before our eyes. To successfully implement feminism in Pakistan, it is essential to embed its importance in sensitivities of culture and religion, so that it could be broad based and acceptable at the grassroots. The misinterpretation of feminism by conservative males has led to widespread hatred for it. It is of utmost importance to understand what feminism actually is. Without women having equal rights, it would be the height of naivety to dream of a developed and liberal nation.
