Feminism and Pakistan
By Nuzhat Nazar
It is amazingly surprising that even today, in the era of modern and civilized world–which we so called claim to be, women are taken confusingly for granted and are still deprived of their basic rights. They have been contributing towards society, be it a school or university level, holding down jobs or looking after house chores, yet they are living with widespread gender-based inequality, violence and abuse.
According to the population census 2018, Women in Pakistan are about 49 per cent of total population whereas the literacy rate for adult female population is only 45 per cent as compared to 72 percent literacy rate for adult male population. However, youth literacy rates are 82 per cent and 69 per cent for males and females accordingly.
Unfortunately, the problem with Pakistan is a widespread belief that women don’t deserve education, jobs or an existence outside the domestic sphere. Not half of the educated females even get a chance to step into the world of professionalism, as they don’t get permission.
Neither Pakistan’s law nor its social norms or code of ethics truly guarantee women a secure place as citizens equal to men, such attitudes are preserved by patriarchal tribal and cultural traditions, as well as the continued twisting of Islamic injunctions to suit the needs of misogynists.
Considering Pakistan a country where feminism is condemned and gender equality is misunderstood largely, people have started ridiculing the concept of feminism fearing the consequences. I believe that feminism has become extremely hypocritical and hurting women way more than anything.
Believing that I have given a pretext to the feminism, I further explain the terminology which is being used to refer gender equality based on equal opportunities been given to both men and women.
Historically, feminism movement started in the beginning of 19th century with an aim to empower women as women had no right to vote which was the first phase of feminism. Capitalizing on the gains of the first phase, feminists started to extend the scope of their demands in the following decades which then brought on the second and third phase of feminism, each with a different set of demands.
With this division of gap between expectation and reality, feminism fell into controversies with number of definitions and intentions. With the passage of time, the controversies are dying down and the term is getting acknowledged (with some misunderstanding though).
Referring to it as a term used to describe gender equality, which is, if a man with three children can be offered promotion up to managerial and director posts then why can’t be offered to a women with same number of children. The term never encourages hating the men, dominating the men, or outclassing men in the society but to be treated equally without being manipulated, exploited or harassed. People mostly consider feminism as gender supremacy instead of gender equality.
It is however essential to integrate the positive vibes of feminism among the people of Pakistan because “silence condones injustice, breeds subservience, fosters a malignant hypocrisy”.