Feminism in Pakistan

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Feminism in Pakistan refers to the set of movements which aim to define, establish, and defend the rights of women in Pakistan.This may involve the pursuit of equal political, economic, and social rights, alongside equal opportunity. These movements have historically been shaped in response to national and global reconfiguration of power, including colonialism, nationalism, Islamization, dictatorship, democracy, and the War on Terror. The relationship between the women's movement and the Pakistani state has undergone significant shifts from mutual accommodation to confrontation and conflict.

Background

Pakistan ranks third-worst – 151 out of 153 – on the Gender Parity Index of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Pakistan's women literacy is so low that more than five million primary-school-age girls don't go to school. According to UNICEF, 18 percent of Pakistani girls are married before turning 18. The prevalence and incidence of forced conversion and marriage are difficult to accurately estimate due to reporting deficiencies and the complex nature of the crime.

According to Zoya Rehman, the image of Pakistani womanhood has been a construction of the Pakistani state since its inception. Pakistani woman, she argues, are expected to guard their sexuality, are controlled, and can even be murdered in honour killings when they do not meet cultural expectations. According to Afiya S. Ziya, this cultural orthodoxy is produced and sponsored by state, the government, and its agency the ISPR as propaganda engineered to influence the public in its own pre-decided way, and censor what it considers to be unsuitable. The state, she argues, does not stop at controlling the national narrative but intrudes public and private life to decide what is legitimate and permissible as 'Pakistani culture' and, what is not.

Feminist expressions in Pakistan

Muslim women were some of the most badly affected victims of Partition; it is reported that 75,000 women were abducted and raped during this period. It was soon after this that Fatima Jinnah formed the Women's Relief Committee, which later evolved into the All Pakistan Women's Association. Jinnah later founded a secret radio station, and, in 1965, came out of her self-imposed political retirement to participate in the presidential election against military dictator Ayub Khan.

Begum Ra'na Liaquat Ali Khan helped the refugees who fled India during partition and also organised the All Pakistan Women's Association in 1949, two years after the creation of her country. Noticing that there were not many nurses in Karachi, Khan requested the army to train women to give injections and first aid, resulting in the para-military forces for women. Nursing also became a career path for many girls. She continued her mission, even after her husband was assassinated in 1951, and became the first female Muslim delegate to the United Nations in 1952.

2018 – present

See also: Fourth-wave feminism, Aurat March, and MeToo movement in Pakistan

The Feminist movement in Pakistan entered a crucial period after 2008 with the advent of private media channels and social media. The movement gained momentum as women were increasingly able to share their ideas and beliefs. Aurat March (Women Marches) are now held in numerous cities over the country. The subjects and issues raised by the marches include increased political participation and representation of women, gender and sexual minorities, religious minorities and other marginalized groups in Pakistan. The movement has also demanded for public spaces to be made safer for women and transgender people, as well as called for an end to all violence against women and Transgender people.

Liberal feminism in Pakistan

Liberal feminism is most prominent in leftist liberal circles, and is often supported by left-leaning political parties such as PPP. It is often characterised by liberal values of freedom, liberty, human rights and Secularism.

Nisaism

Nisaism is more traditionalist in nature and supports the acquisition of women rights under an Islamic lens. The movement is mainly supported by centrists and the right-wing parties of Pakistan. The word Nisaism comes from Surah Nisa, a chapter of Qur'an, demonstrating the Islamic roots of the movement. The movement has faced some criticism for preaching Islamic rights and accepting what other secular feminist groups call the 'Islamic patriarchal structure of Pakistan'.

Feminist organizations of Pakistan

• Alliance Against Sexual Harassment at Work place (AASHA)
• All Pakistan Women's Association (APWA)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
• Democratic Women's Association(DWA)
• Gender and Development
• National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW)
• United Front for Women's Rights (UFWA)
• Women's Political Participation Project
• Tehrik-e-Niswan (The Women's Movement)
• Sindhiani Tahreek (Sindhi women's movement)
• Women Democratic Front
• Aurat Foundation
• Society for Appraisal and Women Empowerment in Rural Areas (SAWERA)
• Acid Survivors Trust International
• Pakistan Federation of Business and Professional Women
• Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)
• Pakistan Women Lawyers' Association
• Women's Action Forum (WAF)
• Pax Femina
• Shirkat Gah
• Aurat March
• Malala Fund
• Girls at Dhabas
• Blue Veins
• Shemale Association for Fundamental Rights (SAFAR)
• Wajood (NGO on Transgender rights, run by Bubbli Malik)
• Akhuwat Khawajasira Program (Organization for Transgender rights, Prjoct Coordinator: Aradhiya Khan)
• All Pakistan Transgender Election Network (APTEN) (Chairperson Nayyab Ali)
• Pakistan Jamhooriat-Pasand Khwateen (Pakistan Women's Democratic Front)
• Dastak
• The Fearless Collective

Bibliography

• Yaqin, Amina. Gender, Sexuality and Feminism in Pakistani Urdu Writing. United Kingdom, Anthem Press. (review)
• Manzoor, Asma . "Aurat Justuju Aur Nisai Andaz E Fikar". Pakistan Journal of Gender Studies, vol. 21, no. 2, Sept. 2021, pp. 153–4,
• Feminism, Postfeminism and Legal Theory: Beyond the Gendered Subject?. United Kingdom, Taylor & Francis, 2018.

See also

• Acid throwing
• Aurat March
• Honour killing in Pakistan
• Me Too movement (Pakistan)
• Modesty patrol
• Mera Jisam Meri Marzi
• Rape in Pakistan
• Swara
• Vani
• Women in Arab societies
• Women's organisations based in Pakistan
• Women's rights
• Women in Pakistan
• Islamic Feminism
• Women in Islam
• Women related laws in Pakistan

External links

• Dr. Salima passed away _{Founder of the Pakistan Federation of Business & Professional Women's Organisation}

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