We need to nurture a mindset in our society that teaches men to respect every woman
CHINA: March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day. This international trend is picking pace in Pakistan as well. But do these trends really bring any change in our society? Will women be given respect by only following such trends? Would they be considered eligible to receive their due rights in society? Does celebrating Women’s Day prevent men from harassing women? Are women given space to move freely in public places without fear of being ogled at? If this is not the case, then why are seminars on International Women’s Day held in Pakistan?
In our society, female workers such as lady health workers, polio immunisation volunteers, sales girls, surveyors and NGO workers are just reflections of our thinking patterns. Interestingly, men working for NGOs, the so-called ‘women’s rights activists’, are no different from other men in their dealing, behaviour and orientation towards working women. While members of civil society conduct seminars, arrange rallies, walks and conferences, do these activities have any implication at the grassroots level? Yes, they do, but the trickle-down effect is very slow and snail paced. What we need to do is to nurture a mindset in our society that teaches men to respect every woman, regardless of whether she is a housewife, a government servant, an NGO worker, a nurse or a teacher, etc. Every woman should be respected, regardless of her profession.
Sehar Sabir
Changchun, Jilin University
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2015.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
