by JayJay
The life of a Pakistani woman is not easy. It is not a hidden fact that she is subjected to discrimination and harassment, within and without the so-called sanctuary of her home. However, harassment and bullying becomes more intense and blatant when she steps out of her home for work or education. From catcalls to verbal innuendo to physical harassment, she has to endure it all, mostly at the hands of strangers, on the streets and on public transport. This harassment does not stop, or rather become more palpable in many cases, at her place of work. The act of harassing women, with sexual tones and motives, by fellow employees or supervisors/managers is referred to sexual harassment. Wikipedia defines sexual harassment as:
Harassment or unwelcome attention of a sexual nature. It includes a range of behavior from mild transgressions and annoyances to serious abuses, which can even involve forced sexual activity. Sexual harassment is considered a form of illegal discrimination in many countries, and is a form of abuse (sexual and psychological) and bullying.
An editorial from The News on October 1 has summed up the issue well, by pointing out to the absence of appropriate legislation to deal with this growing phenomenon. Offering some the broad suggestions, the editorial reads:
As a first step, the government and the private sector should join hands to start a campaign in which sexual harassment in the workplace is defined. This will make working women understand what is acceptable and what is not acceptable behavior in a workplace. The second step in this national exercise would be to ask employers to put into place a proper policy that defines sexual harassment and clearly spells out what action is to be taken against someone found guilty of it. In addition to this, employers need to have a mechanism which enables any employee subjected to such harassment to approach an appropriate forum for filing a complaint. The complaint should be treated confidentially and investigated, and if guilty the offender should be punished according to the employer’s code of ethics for employees. Of course, given that many companies have an environment which is more or less male-dominated and where men are in most decision-making senior roles, it may be a bit much to expect that things will change overnight. However, to do nothing would also be a sign that we as a nation are not willing to evolve and provide justice to those who are victims of this menace.
The menace of sexual harassment at the place of work has been comprehensively and effectively addressed by the West where workplaces are no longer the sole domain of men. Pakistan has a lot to catch up on this matter, and quickly so, as more and more women are entering workforce. It makes economic sense both for employers and the government to have an effective and clear legislation and corporate policies to protect women against harassment. Not only skills and talent of education women can be brought to use more effectively by attracting them in a safe workplace but it has been seen worldwide that presence of women in offices helps boost productivity, besides infusing fresh ideas and way of thinking.
While enacting a piece of legislation and formulating policies is most critical step, a concerted awareness campaign is necessary to influence general attitudes and social behaviors. Without bringing about change to prevalent perception of working women in Pakistan, there is little chance of success in overcoming the problem of sexual harassment. The fact of matter is that most women in Pakistan brave into men-dominated workplaces out of economic necessity, rather than to fulfill career aspirations. The position of women in workplace in Europe, North American and even South East Asia has become entrenched, still it is not odd to come across a public service announcement to press the message on the issue. Such public service announcements are even more necessary in a society like Pakistan where we leg behind even comparable countries in accepting the role of women at work.
Wow, I think we must be typing this in real time.
“No-one restricts women in our country”
What country do you live in? Please read JayJay’s original post.
Yes, many women are mentally ill. Mental illness does not just happen but flowers under pressure of unnatural stress. There are frequently purely environmental causes.
In Saudi 95% of the inmates of mental hospitals are women (95%!) and women outnumber men in asylums in all countries.
We have to inspect the causes of female insanity and I am sure we will find oppressive treatment in its more extreme form at the root of much of it.
Anyway, now that you have reached the point of personally insulting me and accusing me of lying (twice)I think it’s time to end. I don’t think anything useful is going to be said at this late stage.
I don’t need any work or effort to rethink anything, thanks, my dear…I am very comfortable with my viewpoints…..give your haughty kingly instructions to some other woman.
Thankfully I can step out for fresh air where I am now. Others are not as fortunate. Or should I go back to the days when I had to wait in my room for brother or dad to find the time to take me somewhere even if I only needed to go on a small errand…..and if this was a bother for them they let me know it. What a life, I don’t know how men can stand it either, if you ask me. It’s a burden on their backs also.
@thinker, thanks for your support.
@tina, i never advocated the ignorant/criminal people (anywhere, including pakistan) that exploits/harrass women, but at the same time I cant admire feminists (like you);
what you are advocating something that is is not natural, one cant go against nature … how can you change your genetic makup. the things that a woman can do cant be done by man, similarly things that a man can do cannot be done by woman.
what you are presenting is not the pakistaniat, your ideology is different and is conflicting with the ideology, culture and civilization … possessed by pakistanis;
see the difference I too have lived in west for long time, and earned high tech education there .. and have worked in hi tech organizations …. and know many people there …. have many friends there …. but not at the cost of the culture and values I own …
I find it hilarious that the Thinker and Sultan use some western doctorates to justify their arguments while refute others at their own whim and fancy. To thinker and Sultan. Dress up as a woman, wear even a burqa, and try travelling on Karachi busses, lets say to a hospital (that is as innocent of a senario as I can think of) then return in a bus at night to your home. Repeat for a week and tell me your reactions.
About your justification based on Britaney Spears, I guess the mountain top dances and songs in lollywood are a good indicator of your life and relationships then too. May be if you yourself were not watching western tv so much you would be more aware of the plight of women in your own society. Its funny we live in a society where we would rather see women beg at the side of a street than be treated with respect in a work place. (please don’t start quoting me statistics here how the west also has beggers etc. it is not a compitition it is about realizing a problem and fixing it)
Now you are giving rare examples of mentally sick people who should have been sent to a shrink in the first place. You replies are ao chaotic that they seem fabricated. I remember my class mate from school she wanted to become a doctor and now she is a heart specialist. I always admired her and still do. Noone restricts women in our country, you are portraying a false image of Pakistan on purpose. You are giving long justifications for things that are so obviously wrong, like you have all the time in the world and like you are payed to do it. Every society has problems but don’t think that every society needs the same solutions. West has their ways we have ours.
Anyway. Sultan made his point and I think he is right; you just need some fresh air and a lot of work and effort to rethink your philosophy.
What woman could get through life without a chip on her shoulder after hearing the kinds of things posted on this thread? What if we had a post labeling all men as evil, in great detail and allowing for no exceptions–would not men angrily respond? What would we think of the mentality of the women posting?
You are right, there is a lot of frustration and rage, but keeping women in the restricted circumstances that generated those feelings in the first place isn’t going to help–quite the opposite.
I end up thinking of Andrea Yates, a conservative, modestly dressed, quiet religious woman who drowned her five children in a fit of depression. Her meds, by the way, were yanked by a Pakistani doctor who thought the “nice little mother” didn’t need them. I think it’s quite possible he thought the way Sultan does, hence he couldn’t really believe that homeschooling five children and living under a bullying husband was any kind of a “real” problem.
My mother was a modestly dressed/religious woman who abused all of her children in ways that are too horrible to recount. All of us, but myself especially because I was “too strong willed”. I believe she did this because of her frustration, her anger at her limitations in life, and yes, her early marriage, having to leave school for the marriage, and teenage pregnancy.
The suppression of women you are supporting is what has killed and crippled millions of lives. Pop singers are silly, but they don’t drown little kids.
Something to think about.