THIS is apropos the editorial ‘Mind the gap’ (Dec 20). The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2020, ranks Pakistan 151 out of 153.

The survey in gender parity took the following four segments into consideration: 1) economic participation and opportunity, 2) educational attainment, 3) health and survival, and 4) political empowerment.

Based on the above, the country has been found to be one of the ‘most inequitable societies’ on the globe. It has also been reported that the ranking has slipped from 112 to 153 in recent times.

I was wondering that if a fifth segment was added to the list, violence against women, where would we rank?

Figures would not be required to be tabulated for that. The survey could be conducted by viewing dramas on any of our TV channels, where women are depicted as manipulating, demeaned, despicable, abused and frequently slapped around creatures.

The argument that these are just dramas meant for entertainment is rendered redundant as their writers and producers say that they portray our society.

A senior citizen

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2020