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.
A very thought provoking article on IWD:
http://www.counterpunch.com/marshall03082007.html
I strongly recommend reading Asma Barlas’s book “Believing Women in Islam.” Her thesis is appealing and gives an insight into the patriarchal mindset of Muslim men of later times.
Having said that, let us not forget that women in the West enjoys liberties not because of the Christianity but inspite of it. On the religious scale Muslim women have certainly enjoyed more rights and there have been notable scholarship among Muslim women in the history. However in the present times, whether due to economy, culture, or misinterpretation of faith, women in the Muslim world are enduring undue social and economic pressures. They certainly deserve empowerment, education, opportunities, and respect.
Adil, it was a pleasure to read your blog today. Keep up!
The JUI statement is shameful but not surprising. Looking at other comments here there seems to be no dearth of men who misuse religion to maintain their control on women and tell them what they can and cannot do. It was exactly this type of Saudi-imported thinking that made Maulvi Sarwar kill Minister Zille Huma recently and it was quite support of people who buy into that thinking which is as much a culprit as Maulvi Sarwar is.
What perverted ideas. Why a biking event ONLY for women. Are men ashed of them? Why not for everyone… men, women, children, young, old, muslims, christians, anyone.
Aurat hona koee choot ki bemari nahin hai!
And Saudi Arabia is NOT the yardstick of our aspirations, specially for women’s issues. God forbid if we stoop as low as them in the treatment of women, or of humans in general.
getting women involved in greater numbers in the pakistani workforce is a very effective way of improving the plight of pakistani women. experience outside home environment will give women self-confidence needed to deal with broader society on their own terms and specifically to resist unfair family demands. work also brings financial independence which provides women with the ability to stand up on their own feet if serious problems arise at home. plus career gives women the opportunity to develop or even discover their interests and skills. few things in life are as fulfilling as a successful career. working women also tend to have less children which lessens financial burden on families.
i also think the cause of pakistani women will be better served if we realise that islamic societies have cultural norms which are different from cultural norms of other societies. larger awam will get alienated and get pushed into the arms of extremists if awam sees the battle for women’s rights as a battle against islam. best example of this is the forced secularisation campaign launched by shah of iran which set back the rights of iranian women by decades. also campaign for women rights should not involve foreigners as has been the case over the last couple of years. unlike english-medium-type pakistanis, awam does not think that gora culture is superior and sees foreign involvement as a backdoor means of imposing gora values.