Celebrating women

The concept of feminism and liberal women are barely celebrated in Pakistan. In fact, one is shunned for even publicly expressing support for feminism.

While the urban of the country profess to promote it, there are many who believe that the job of a desi woman is to clean, cook and dedicate her life to her husband and family, all the while putting a lid on her dreams and ambitions. But women can be so much more than just being the perfect Stepford wives.

In a span of a few weeks, our women have brought Pakistan into the limelight, in a positive way I might add.

We have Malala Yousufzai, the youngest female Nobel Peace laureate; our women got recognised for the documentary, Outlawed in Pakistan, and brought home an Emmy; our women cricket team brought home the Asian Games gold medal and gave us something to brag about.

I wish we could say the same thing about the men in green. All these accomplishments belong to the Pakistani nation — if it is willing to be recognised for them, that is. But why would Pakistan want to be known for its women?

While we are getting global recognition for what our women have achieved, we are also being recognised for all the injustices committed against them. Recently, after what seemed like countless years of torture for her, a court upheld the death penalty against Aasia Bibi in a blasphemy case.

While our society continues to execute women, forces them to self-immolate, takes away their fundamental right to education, as well as their right to freedom of speech, they are still earning plaudits and fame, for their efforts in bringing about positive change in this patriarchal society.

We need to tell our women that they do not have to put a lid on their ambitions, just because the men say so.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2014.