KARACHI:
Every year, International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8th March to recognise the struggles and achievements of women around the world. It is a day to acknowledge the important role that women play in society and to advocate for their rights and equality. IWD is widely accepted and commemorated in most parts of the world but has become a contentious issue in Pakistan due to ultra-conservative ideologies.
Pakistani women face many challenges, which are rooted in the conservative mindset that views women’s roles as confined to the home, and their worth is defined in terms of their relationship to men. Social and cultural norms reinforce the patriarchal mindset prevalent in the country ultimately reinforcing gender stereotypes and discrimination against women. These stereotypes are used to justify restrictions on women’s mobility, access to education, and participation in the workforce. One of the major challenges facing Pakistani women is violence. In 2020 alone, more than 11,000 cases of violence against women were reported. Many crimes against women go unreported or are not prosecuted due to a lack of legal and social protection.
Despite the challenges, several Pakistani women are leading the way in advocating for women’s rights and equality. Women’s rights activists, educators, journalists, and politicians have been working tirelessly to challenge gender stereotypes and promote women’s empowerment. These women are pushing back against the conservative mindset that seeks to limit women’s freedoms and opportunities. The struggle for women’s rights and equality in Pakistan is far from over. However, the celebration of IWD serves as a reminder of the progress that has been made and the work that still needs to be done to achieve gender equality. We must stand up for the rights of women and dismantle the mindset that impedes progress towards a more equal and just society.
Shehzad Mughal
Gilgit Baltistan
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2023.
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