It is important for women to stand up for their rights
KARACHI: Aurat March has been one of the most controversial events in the country since last year and is gearing up with all the more flare. Women come out on the road with banners and march together. The slogan “Mera Jism Meri Marzi” is just a headline of their vision and needs to be understood in context with the Pakistani culture. Recently Khalilur Rehman, a drama writer, and Marvi Sirmad, an analyst and activist on national television, got into a heated discussion where abusive language was used.
Those people who are opposed to the Aurat March in the name of culture, religion or vulgarity, should understand that women are standing up for the reason that it seemed all right for a man to verbally abuse a female on the air. The truth is that men have made women believe that they have no self-worth, no feeling, no sentiments and whoever wants to touch them, violate them and abuse them are free to do so. Perhaps they forget that Pakistan is plagued with problems such as underage marriages, genital mutilation and honour killings. It is important for women to stand up for their rights and fight the authoritarian mindset that try to suppress them.
Misbah Javed
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2020.
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