By Sehrash Mumtaz,
Mao Zedong says: ” Women hold up half the sky.” This saying of Mao is both lofty and noble in theory, but practically, a far cry. In China, delegates at the Congress choose members of the Party’s Central Committee, where women, abysmally, account for only 4.9 percent of the 205-strong membership. Absence of women at the helms of affairs points to the gloomy times ahead. Equally dismal and bleak is the condition of women in Pakistan. Women in Pakistan confront multifarious challenges. These challenges not only inhibit the progress of women but also adversely impact the development of Pakistan. The role of women in the independence struggle for Pakistan is both conspicuous and incontestable. Women dream of Pakistan as a temple of prestige, dignity, and freedom. Unfortunately, all those dreams are dashing to the grounds; yearnings ending in smoke.
Even the women hailing from the higher strata are not invulnerable, let alone those from the middle and low stratas of society. When Fatima Jinnah, sister of Quaid e Azam, was put up as the presidential candidate by the Combined Opposition Parties (COP), her candidature was termed un-Islamic on the grounds of being a woman. Women are ought to be the bedrock of a well-ordered society. This absence of women from different spheres of life in Pakistan is a matter of pressing concern. Likewise, the pathetic conditions in which women live at homes also beggar description. They face a host of issues there with little appreciation. Despite working tediously from dawn to dusk, they get neither recognition nor compensation. With incessant tall claims and lip services given to solve the hideous grievances of women, none of the governments has ever shown promising courage to placate the woes of women. The role of our women has been relegated to be an object of mere sexual satisfaction. Women despite being an epitome of an indefatigable fighter for truth and justice, are being killed on the name of honor killings. Even a minor suspicion of an indecent conduct can take their lives at the drop of a cap. Then, the situation becomes worse when we take a glimpse at a concept of good wife and bad wife. This concept defines a good wife as the one confining herself within the four walls of her house. It has aggravated the economic independence of women. Not only her agricultural and domestic chores are overlooked and unnoticed, but also the cattle brought up by women are sold by men in markets. The situation takes an ugly turn when we look at the recognition extended by government to the work of our long deserted and abandoned souls. Furthermore, early marriages and problems of dowry have negatively affected the growth of our women. Similarly, religious education is inculcated to prolong the status-quo which ultimately affects women and strengthens patriarchy. Similarly, there are also abstract means, like social attitudes, to control women. Women are deprived of inheritance and other basic rights. There are three basic means of production: labour, capital, and property. All three of these are in men’s control. What further makes the situation precarious is the social condemnation of men who ‘eat the earnings of their women’. This condemnation hinders the sail of women’s prosperity for glorious destinations. Sons are preferred to girls as the former are considered to be the sole source of maintaining the dwindling prestige of families. Women are also vulnerable to the sexual assaults. Haleema Rafiq, a national cricketer, took her life when her pleas were taken into account. The euphoria of their economic independence is further debilitated when we dig into the astonishing report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the IMF, only 8 percent women in Pakistan borrow from banks, compared to 51 in Brazil. Kesho Scott says: “The lessons I learnt did not come from books; they come from the stories of women.” The online exploitation of women has also remained a hot commodity. According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), women make up to a staggering 90 percent of the cases reported to the cyber crime circle in Lahore only. Women have shown more vigour and perseverance than men in a number of findings. For instance, it is reported that on average women lawmakers sponsored 25 agenda items; whereas, men sponsored 6 in the National Assembly. Likewise, in terms of attendance in the Senate, women lawmakers attended 67% sittings compared to 56% by men. There is a dire need to acknowledge the chores of women. If we tackle their most intractable problems, we can, as the years go by, achieve the acme of prosperity. The absence of women from the official records can be gauged from the fact that the population census of 1981 stated that there were only 148 women in all over Pakistan working in agriculture. We are making our world much messier by not giving our women their due rights, deference, and recognition. (The Writer is Working at the Poverty Alleviation Fund, Islamabad )