March 9, 2006

It is that time of year again when the females in our lives take centre-stage and call world attention to their distinct and irrevocable status as human beings. Why there exists this differentiation within the human species is a question best asked of nature.

It has been so ordained by Him with a clearly stated set of ground rules that govern interaction, mutual respect being at the heart of the equation. It is this equation that has gone amiss in society in clear and serious violation of the ground rules, necessitating the universal affirmation of the ground rules in a formal ritual of speeches, often fiery, on Women’s Day.

Never before has the women’s emancipation movement seen such vigour within its ranks. From tradition bound societies of South Asia, held hostage by coercive and oppressive male chauvinists, have risen the likes of Mukhtaran Mai and Sanya Mirza. One hailing from an illiterate and impoverished background, and the other raised with a priceless education and aspirations of world domination. Thanks to global media connectivity, both have become instant celebrities and role models, inspiring millions of women in the pursuit of personal empowerment.

The male chauvinists are clearly on the back foot, though there is much that still remains to be done before women across the board can gain true emancipation. The Supreme Court has directed the police chiefs of the four provinces to protect women against the un-Islamic customs of vani and swara that require a woman to be handed over to a man as compensation in settlement of a dispute. That the Court should have found it necessary to issue a directive reflects very poorly upon our society that permits such customs to flourish.

The entire focus of the women’s emancipation movement appears to be upon the repeal of coercive legislations when it should be upon the development of human resource at the grass root level through a frontal assault upon illiteracy that provides fertile ground for the abuse of human rights.

Dr Arifa Syeda, the new chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women, is doing an admirable job pushing the repeal of Hudood Laws Bill, Equality of Opportunities for Women Bill, and the Bill on Domestic Violence.

Alongside, she should be lobbying vigorously for enhanced social sector outlays in the government budget. There is a clear danger to the Pakistani social fabric from the enemy within, providing, perhaps, ample justification for the deployment of the national defence budget towards building the right kind of muscle within civil society.

I met a uniquely empowered woman, a working mother raising her children in the absence of their father, a Pakistan Air Force officer who died in the line of duty. Samina Rizwan, a senior manager at a firm overseeing the South Asian growth economies. When asked what it would take to truly empower the Pakistani woman, she said, “First, it will take educating the Pakistani men. Then, it will take a lot of courage from the Pakistani woman to demand dignity and value for her being from her family and her community. We must understand that in Pakistan, the issue of emancipation is not only associated with women, it also affects millions of Pakistani men. Our culture has not converted wholly from the feudal to the industrial or beyond. We have not unshackled ourselves from the belief that some of us are owners while others are serfs, property, and slaves.

“It applies mostly to women and children, but men also suffer this unfortunate indignity. So, to expect empowerment for the Pakistani woman without first educating and spiritually empowering the Pakistani man, seems to my mind an impossibility. Both need to be educated in two basic understandings; their rights and their responsibilities. Once this is accomplished, it will be infinitely easier for both to respect each other and acknowledge each other’s right to life, to livelihood, to dignity.”

Other than education, financial independence is necessary for anyone to feel empowered. Women in rural Pakistan work at least 18 hours a day, in the fields and at home, without ever receiving a single penny for their work. They are a non-entity as far as the economic statistics are concerned since, when we count the ‘national workforce’, we leave these women entirely out. We probably also leave their men out since most of them are haris, and definitely the children who work alongside their parents in the fields.

So, until we acknowledge a worker as a valuable economic and human resource, how can we expect to empower him or her? Therefore, it is important to count the women and then to compensate them no matter where they may be working — in the fields, the factories, as domestic servants, as child labourers — whatever their capacity may be.

When we talk of women in Pakistan, we normally refer to the educated, working women in the country. We may also sometimes be referring to educated and privileged women who are not working outside their homes. While the educated sub-set of society is indeed important, the fact is that it forms no more than five to eight per cent of the country’s population.

“Our empowerment lies largely in our own hands,” says Samina. “We have the capacity, the capability, the environment to demand our rights and command respect. But we also have the power to do a lot more. We can influence legislation to ensure that our sisters who are part of the silent majority receive their due share of economic wealth, that the law and their communities treat them as human beings and not as cattle, that they are informed of their rights and responsibilities, and that society does not condemn and discard them when they protest against injustice and demand their rights.

“We, as women, do not do enough to empower our own kind. We are not a forceful group in society. We must become a formidable force in order to bring emancipation and empowerment to our gender in Pakistan.”

Angelina Jolie has emerged as a leading symbol of women’s emancipation, a formidable force, as it were. The self-confidence, self-sufficiency, fearlessness, and concern for the oppressed depicted in her action packed Hollywood blockbusters have found practical manifestation in her real life as the roving Unicef ambassador visiting, undeterred, the danger spots of the world with displaced populations.

The question that arises on Women’s Day is why men have acted in a manner so contrary to an officer and a gentleman that women have found the need to raise their collective voice every year in protest? I suspect that even if this hadn’t been the case, and men had been chivalrous, caring, understanding and unconditionally supportive of women, even then the women would still have found reason to dedicate an entire day of the year to celebrating her uniqueness.

It would have been a bit of a bore, though, with men in unconditional fawning and adoring mode. It could just as easily have become a celebration of female supremacy, leading some men to engineer a Men’s Day, and return to life that spice which only strife can deliver!

 

Family factor

Rukhsana is a good example of what a supportive and strong family fabric can do for female empowerment. Her family never pushed her into marriage, and unconditionally supported her choices in life, even if they were sometimes tinged with some small eccentricity and self-indulgence! The youngest of three siblings, Rukhsana has flourished within a joint family system that takes care of its own. Even though motherhood may have eluded her, she has done more than her share of mothering, helping raise her nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews. Alongside pursuing a very full and satisfying legal career replete with pro bono work. She is a part of an increasing number of working women who have successfully accepted the challenge of the workplace, making a name for themselves in the process. It will, however, be a while before this segment of the population assumes critical mass. Until then Rukhsana and her likes will have to carry the cross for their gender, with enlightened support from their immediate and extended families and circle of friends.  –– A. A.

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