Complicit in crime

The battle to end gender inequality and particularly violence against women in Pakistan is a tricky one, to say the least. The usual clamour that we hear when it comes to eradicating this menace is for new and improved laws. And the clamour is indeed justified. As it stands, over a third of criminal cases in the country concern incidents of domestic violence against women. But while no one disputes that a more robust legal framework and improved access to justice would go a long way in improving conditions for Pakistani women, a niggling question remains: is it enough?

A recent paper in the Journal of International Women’s Studies illustrates the deeper challenge when it comes to ending domestic abuse and violence against Pakistani women. The paper, which for the most part, focuses on the efficacy of certain reforms introduced by the Punjab government, placing gendered social norms at the root of the problem in Pakistan. It argues that in Pakistan’s prevailing social context, domestic violence is not regarded as a serious offence. It also admits that it is simply not possible to change gendered social norms regarding domestic violence by only focusing on legal reform.

While we call on our leaders to put in place more stringent frameworks to end domestic violence and gender inequality, we should also look inwards and admit that all of us are complicit in perpetuating it. Even as we take a stand against the menace, we simply choose to skirt around certain areas. And unfortunate as it may be, these very areas are the source of certain toxic attitudes concerning women and other groups that suffer from inequality and violence.

There are parts of our values and cultural attitudes that absolutely must be cherished and celebrated. At the same time, we should not let injustice and unfairness slide simply because calling certain problems out entails criticising our culture and beliefs.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2019.

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