Being a woman in Pakistan

tazeen:

where there is no rule of law the downtrodden, the disenfranchised, the poor, the minorities and the women will continue to receive sub standard protection from the stateRecommend

The irony is when the bigots protests for an al Qaeda operative Dr. Afia, but are silent on Aqsa, Mukhtaran Mai, Kainat, Afsheen and hundreds like them…Recommend

Tazeen, you have dramatically posed the entire situation by sighting few women related incidents, condition of women in Pakistan is indeed miserable but what about majority of men who daily become victim of target killings and left unattended, bonded labors and those who face discrimination in corporate culture etc.

Unfortunately in Pakistan things are worst for men too where they are not given their due rights.

I believe instead of highlighting women issues only, stakeholders should emphasis on rights of ordinary citizens as well — that will make a difference. Once we are able to establish a just society nobody would dare to oppress ordinary citizen of Pakistan.

You spoke about Afshan but forgot that its a story of almost every home of Pakistan, it doesn’t make any difference whether she was living in UK or anywhere but as long as she’s living with her family she has to abide by the rules set by her parents. It was a domestic issue which should be settled at home only. (Though she should not have been beaten).Recommend

Woman are treated not equally in most areas of Pakistan but then again it is like with the ongoing situation of the terrorist we have a humanity crisis. They have no regard for human life, just like so many women have killed under the Taliban regime.Recommend

You have dramatically posed the entire situation by sighting few women related incidents, condition of women in Pakistan is indeed miserable but what about majority of men who daily become victim of target killings and left unattended, bonded labors and those who face discrimination in corporate culture etc.
Unfortunately in Pakistan things are worst for men too where they are not given their due rights.
Woman are treated not equally in most areas of Pakistan but then again it is like with the ongoing situation of the terrorist we have a humanity crisis. They have no regard for human life, just like so many women have killed under the Taliban regime.Recommend

Change the title to:

Being a woman in rural Pakistan.

Or prove me how life is difficult in urban Pakistan ?Recommend

You say t is not easy being a woman anywhere in the world but it is a tad more difficult being a woman in Pakistan May be you should concentrate your thoughts in Pakistan and not anywhere. Things are going women’s way in the world. That, at least, is the conclusion of a new article in Atlantic Monthly, which has created a bit of a stir on both sides of the pond. “Earlier this year,” says its author, Hanna Rosin, “women became the majority workforce for the first time in US history. Most managers are now women too. And for every two men who get a college degree this year, three women will do the same. For years, women’s progress has been cast as a struggle for equality. But what,” she asks, in a manner faintly reminiscent of a super-coiffed Carrie Bradshaw tapping away at a laptop before nipping out for a Cosmopolitan, “if equality isn’t the end point? What if modern, post-industrial society is simply better suited to women?”
In Pakistan it is bad and getting worse. Is that what you were saying?Recommend

Nasira, I have seen a lot of girls with tears in their eyes having same stories like you. The only think, to my understanding,whenever and where ever we violate the teachings of the holy Quran and mix boys and girls under the name of liberalism, this will always happen. Your story was repeated twice in my University just in One week last month.

Remeber, No force can stop this, even it should not be, when ever Boys and girls are interacting unnecessarily and sending messages to one another.Recommend

I read Nasira’s appeal to the President of Pakistan. I also tried to read in between the line in the comments of (Mr or Ms) SM! To me, it really seems a fight between ‘fundamentalism’ and ‘liberalism’ in our society. I really don’t know from where ‘extremism’ and ‘terrorism’ start in this regard! But, it is clear that to be a woman is a very painful job in our society! Although Islam has given woman all human rights but we try to snatch them from her. Being a man, I personally confess the atrocities against woman in our society. It’s time to change our social behavior to make a good reputation of our country in the world.Recommend

I like how the only people in these comments who are questioning the validity of Tazeens arguments are men. Walk a foot in our shoes and then you will know what its like to be a woman in a rural or urban area.

The only time Ive read a Pakistani mans appreciation of how difficult it can be to be a woman is on sami shah’s blog (he writes for tribune also).

http://samishah.wordpress.com/2009/05/10/anya-arrives/Recommend

@SM

Please don’t try to use holy books as a cover up for blatant male chauvanism.

I live in a western country where women wear mini skirts. I see women going alone in the darkest part of the city half naked and not a single man dares to take advantage of her. They are even scared to whistle at her. No man here could even dare to take advantage of a woman because of really strong laws protecting women. Sick minded people use holy books to take advantage of women. I have seen people in Pakistan molest women and then accuse that same woman of not following the quran and therefore the blame lies on the woman for enticing the man. Only a mentally sick person could apply such a logic.

The west has truly emancipated and freed women from centuries of subjugation.Recommend

I support male chauvinism and supremacy, loud and clear!!!!! Do any one has an argument???Recommend

@SM

during the prophet’s time men and women used to pray in the same mosque without any pardah separating them. Hazrat Aisha led an army of “male” muslim men in war.

Stop using Islam to further agenda of segregation and women subjugation.Recommend