There is something deeply wrong at the very basis of our consciousness regarding the issue of equality and justice
ISLAMABAD: Not that I think men are capable of such animal-like behaviour by default or that I think celebrities are spoilt little children who have far too much power and resources at their disposal to act sane, but just that I know, being a woman, what is it like to move in a power structure which positions you at a situation of relative disadvantage with men. The relative preponderance of power men have over women at financial, social and cultural level in all contemporary societies, inevitably opens avenues for exploitation and misuse of power. To demand from women to stoop to a level where they are hurt and damaged to a degree which makes it next to impossible for them to report and seek help let alone recover and come back is exactly what such predatory behaviour from the likes of Bill Cosby, and many others thrive on. To those who aim to paint it as a movement of Women against Men, fail to see that it is actually an issue of women fighting against the cultural and structural violence which they are faced with. When you end up hearing, “why did she go to his office in the first place? What was she expecting in this line of business? Why can’t they just stay home? Well, you have to make a few compromises if you want to succeed! ... then please know that there is something deeply wrong at the very basis of our consciousness regarding the issue of equality and justice. To men who move up the ladder of success I ask: how many of you were pushed to assert your sexuality or were forced to deal with the sexual advances and favours on a daily basis as an alternative to your professional and intellectual skills? ... you will be surprised as to how many societies in the world can measure up to the notions of gender equality, and those that apparently did are recently finding that actually they were not as safe and equal in terms of social justice and liberal values as it might have seemed to the eye. The issue of women’s harassment particularly in the workplace is of a deeply complex nature and the current polarity driven narrative and approach we have towards it is bound to lead us not anywhere near resolving it for the better anytime soon.
Noorulain Naseem
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2018.
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