Adil Najam
As a rule, we try not to repeat posts too often. Sometimes, we feel that the message is either pertinent again or that the original may not have been seen by a new crop of readership. I am reposting this picture and this post, originally posted on this date last year, because the message is even more pertinent today than it was a year ago, and because I feel like I need to say it again.
For Pakistan, this has again been a year of struggles as well as achievements for women. It marked the assassination of Benazir Bhutto – clearly the best known Pakistani woman, whatever you think of her politics. It marked also an election that saw more women win on general seats than ever before in Pakistan. But there was more, much more, to the daily struggles and achievements of Pakistan’s 70 million women that we need to celebrate. Today, and everyday.
In the metaphor of the original post, the message is that we all are (not just women, but men too) crossing the road to better gender relations, but we ain’t there just yet. Not by a long shot. Read on, please, even if you have read it before. What follows is my original post from last year.
Today is March 8 – International Women’s Day. Today we wish to celebrate women in the fullness of what it means to be a woman in Pakistan. To celebrate their achievements (also here, here, here, here, here, here and here). And to celebrate their struggles (also here, here, here here, here, here and here).
I have thought much about how best to capture the meaning of this day. It seems to me that in many very important ways, this picture above does.
I have admired this picture by Jawad Zakariya (whose work we have featured before here and here) from the moment I first saw it at Flickr. I had been waiting, however, for the right time and the right context in which to use it. Today, I feel, IS that right time and right context.
There is both dignity and determination in the posture of this young woman as she tries to cross the road (Jail Road, Lahore). As in any good photograph, there are a thousand stories embedded in this one. The metaphor of ‘crossing the road’ is itself so very pertinent for today. So full of meaning.
For me, here is a woman who is not waiting for someone to ‘help’ her cross the road. She is not demanding any special treatment. Not waiting for assistance. Not invoking the chuvinism of the men around her. She is ready, prepared, even eager, to overcome whatever hurdles come in her way. She just wants to cross the road on her own; for people (mostly men) to get out of her way. That, ultimately, is what this day is about. It is not about seeking special treatment, special dispensations, special laws. It is about ensuring that women have what we men have always had. The ability to realize their own potentials. To rise to their own aspirations. To be able to cross the roads they wish to cross… on their own.
Qandeel,
the situation is certainly complex and making it context specific does not make it better. Truth is that societies need some simple and robust rules to move forward. You put it correctly, that girl should have all freedom of mind and body to cross the road. State agencies and civil vigilance have got to make sure it happens.
I believe that if women are assured of their protection, in case things go wrong, then they would dare more in confronting the outside world on their own and hence help in changing some bogus mentalities.
In my town of punjab, the custom was that girls of “shareef families” wouldn’t go out alone e.g. to the market place. She would rather be accompanied by her younger brother, no matter if he were half of her size.
The idea was that the boys standing uselessly in the street should not tease her or pass some vulgar comments. The presence of the younger brother was considered as a precautionary measure. In any case she was not supposed to reply. Now those boys also were no angels and they could at times go out of control. One would better avoid them rather confronting them. Why was there no or little control over those boys is the central question. Normally girls with many grown up brothers felt more respected than the others.
Then, as a kid, I went to karachi and was amazed by the freedom of movement the girls enjoyed over there. At times there were also bands of boys standing uselessly and would pass some remarks on the passing girls but it did not become a bigger problem. At times, I saw some girls replying back in harsh words but those boys rather enjoyed it and didn’t get angry or nasty. It seemed to me that replying back was a more normal thing for karachite girls in comparison with those of my small town of punjab.
So, the protection needs to be ensured to start with and then girls need to dare more and more so that this is no more an issue.
Feminists have long debated the “equal treatment” vs “special treatment” approach. But it’s not so black and white. I think the issue is context-specific; there may crop up situations that require and justify special treatment. But I think we’re a long way from discussing those in Pakistan. The key point now is to ensure that that girl has the basic freedom of mind and body to be able to cross a road.
Eidee Man wrote “Also, you should proofread more.”
Thanks indeed, I should also stop picking my nose and throwing my socks all around the place.
Anyways, primitive is also the mentality that believes that women should either be kept away from or else receive special treatment in public places.
Eidee Man–the problem with separate facilities is that they are rarely, if ever, equal, meaning ultimately women are denied access to services. Secondly, such facilities reinforce gender segregation instead of fighting it.
It’s a concept that looks okay on paper but in practice works out rather badly.
“I would also wish an international day for, but not limited to, the following weaker groups :
1. religious minorities,
2. agricultural slaves
3. child labour
4. poor people
5. married by force
6. kidnapped by the agencies,
7. manhandled by the police
8. educated in government schools
9. killed for someone