KARACHI:
“If you want to know how civilised a culture is, look at how it treats its women,” said Bacha Khan. Women are the backbone of a society. Their contribution and perseverance cannot be neglected. When a woman is educated, an entire generation is uplifted. They have the potential to get a society to the summit of success if they are given the rights to excel.
Unfortunately, in this part of the world, women have not been given equal rights. They face a multitude of problems in their day-to-day lives. They do not feel safe going out alone. It becomes mandatory for them to take at least one person, even if it’s a child, with them because society has failed to protect them.
Moreover, early marriage is another social issue that deprives them of opportunities. Thousands of girls are forced to marry because of prevailing cultural norms. Families often force young girls to marry against their will. Conservative minds in a patriarchal society often remain unable to treat them as respectful individuals. As a result, girls can just dream of getting an education and having a successful career.
Education is the fundamental right of every man and woman. However, outdated cultural beliefs and society’s unsafe attitude towards women push them backward and deter them from getting an education. From the doors of their homes to the classroom, many women are seen with bad intentions as if they were a separate species. Most parents give up and stop sending their daughters to schools.
In order to progress as a society, women must be treated with respect. Their education, safety and autonomy must be prioritised. They must be treated as equally contributing members of society, because they have the potential to transform generations.
Muhammad Haris
Mastung
