International Women Day is celebrated on 8 March every year. The United Nations begin celebrating this day in the year 1977. This day is marked to honor the achievements of women in different spheres of life. Women from various cultural backgrounds come together with demands of getting women’s right. While majority of the women around the world celebrate independence and freedom on this day, Pakistani women come out to raise voice against the patriarchal setup of our society. Hence, they have named it as “Aurat Marach”.
First Aurat March was held on March 8, 2018 to commemorate International Women’s Day. Women belonging to various professions, organizations and activists groups marched on the streets of Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Faisalabad with a demand for balanced society to fight against the oppression. In 2018, March was not very highlighted. It was in 2019, Aurat March caught the attention of masses. What came after that is unfortunate. On social media and on TV shows, women who participated in the Aurat March or who supported the March are being hushed and ridiculed. They are facing a backlash from religious parties and some misogynists. They are of the view that Aurat March is promoting vulgarity and non-Islamic practices.
The criticism being received by this movement is mainly because of the placards and slogans which are termed as ‘objectionable’. It is very baffling to see that supporters and critics of Aurat March are now spewing hate against each other on different platforms. It is very unfortunate that peaceful march that was intended to highlight injustices faced by women is now becoming a verbal battle where both the parties are focused on demeaning each other. It is a sad reality that weak is always oppressed. Women are perceived as weaker gender. Last year, participants of Aurat March received life threats. This shows that men here are threatened by the women standing up for their rights. This mid set needs to be changed.
Our religion Islam honors women greatly. Women are allowed their share in inheritance and they are given equal business opportunities as men. Their consent is considered important when getting married. Back in times, Muslim women fought battles with men. They rose against the authorities and shattered glass ceilings. Real question is whether women in our society are given their due rights or not? Rape, work place harassment, child abuse, forced marriages, unwanted pregnancies, abortions, honor killings, all these are common.
Having said that, slogans and language being used by Aurat March participants is not acceptable in our society and religion. Aurat March participants should not use abusive language towards anyone as it diverting attention from the actual cause. These educated and liberal women are representative of women from backward areas. They need to bring focus of the society towards issues involving women abuse, rape and honor killing instead of raising objectionable slogans. We don’t need to challenge our cultural and religious norms to get our rights.
The whole Khalil-ur-Rehman and Marvi Sarmad simply teaches us to be more tolerant and acceptable of each other’s views. We should learn to disagree in a respectful manner. Be it men or women, they should come on the same page to provide protection and due rights to every women. Charter of demands presented by Aurat March participants address very important issues faced by women in Pakistan. Let’s focus on them to make our society an exemplary one. Let’s March together for our mothers, sisters and daughters are still falling victims to injustices. Let’s make this system a better one for our generations to come.
by: Abeer Arshad
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