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Gender Equality in Pakistan – Continuing Violence and Harassment

A couple of global movements – #MeToo and #TimesUp – recently made waves in the social and traditional media. They have announced to the world at large that women will no longer hide and feel ashamed of being victimized. The effects of these campaigns have been felt in our backyard as well. Gender equality in Pakistan has never enjoyed the attention that it is today. But will this result in any lasting result?

If the most recent news coming out of Islamabad is put in focus, it doesn’t seem like there is any lasting effect.

A girl was sexually assaulted inside one of the most popular public parks in Islamabad.

In broad daylight!

Yes, believe it.

Apparently, her “crime” was that she was out in the park with a boy. How dare she?

Some employees of the government pretended to be officers and intimated the two into separating, not before siphoning some money out of them. And generously offered to escort the girl out a different door that the boy went towards.

They are conflicting reports regarding the events that followed, but one thing is certain, that girl’s life will never be the same.

She was subjected to some heinous acts, before being left with some sprinkling to death threats for good measure.

Is there Gender Equality in Pakistan?

So the question that I feel, and many others will feel the same way, should be asked is that is there any type of gender equality in Pakistan?

Yes, there is good work being done by great organizations, such as UN Women Pakistan, who are trying to remove the scourge of violence against women. The government has taken some positive steps as well.

gender equality image

But we as a people have not.

The average male still has no real idea what gender equality truly means. They feel women have every freedom in the world in our country, what else do they have the need for?

So, the harassment, assaults, jeering, taunts, staring, etc., continue vehemently in every area of our society.

One argument is ‘if women cover themselves, none of these will happen’. I’ll address all the boys and men here directly. I’ve personally seen women, who are covered from head to toe, being stared at shamelessly! Tell me off if I am lying. You know it is true.

Is there a way to end this?

Education.

That is the oversimplified answer to the problems stated above.

It is easier said than done.

It is not easy to erase the knowledge that we as a people have learned from our past. It is continually passed down from one generation to another, in the subtlest ways possible.

‘School? Why do you need to go to school? Your brother is going that is enough’

That is a common statement in households where young girls live. It may not seem familiar to those of us living in cities but it is there in the majority of the country.

Its statements like these that make the gender equality debate null and void. Think of what that brother will do to his daughter when he grows up. The same thing most likely.

And the cycle continues.

Men for Women’s Rights

Women have been fighting for their rights for generations.

In fact, there was a period in the 90s that was thought to be the revolutionary period for women’s rights.

It came.

It went.

Things remained the same.

Now there is another period which is promising to do the same thing.

It is here. Right Now!

So how do we make this one count?

Men. We men have to stand up for women’s rights. Majority of them (cause let’s face it, some men will never come around).

That is the only way that gender equality, in its true form, will be effectively present in Pakistan.

Maybe, just maybe, when men start to stand up, a girl can go into a park without the threat of an assault or harassment hanging over her head.

She will be able to live a normal life.

Without being violated.

Without a lifetime of nightmares.

Let us hope we can provide that kind of country to our daughters, sisters, and mothers of the future. Just my opinion.

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