Sadia Sohail
Gender inequality remains a major barrier to human development. These disadvantages are being faced by women, girls and transgender, they are major source of inequality.
Women are discriminated in all spheres of life that includes health, education, politics, maternal health and economy. Pakistan has been ranked the second worst country in the world for gender inequality. The educational status of Pakistani women and transgender is among the lowest in the world. In a country like Pakistan, the moment a girl takes birth most of her decisions are already made. However, when a baby boy is born, his family would give him a chance to do whatever he pleases.
I have lived and grown up in Balochistan and I feel like I am living in a patriarchal society where in every second a women is thought to be suppressed and oppressed. We live a life where we take breath with permission. In many ways women are dependent on their male members like in decision making, if they want to do something or go somewhere it is necessary that any male should escort them. From little to a big, our every decision is not our, even our minds and education are controlled by males. But why?
Doesn’t Islam allow her to move around freely? Is this the way to behave with women? Why don’t anyone cares about our emotions, feelings and happiness? Are we not equal to men? No we are equal to men. We are working together, shoulder to shoulder now. The birth of a female child in our society is undeniable. No matter which class we belong to every parent wants their next child to be a son. Before marriage our decisions are properties of brothers and father, and after marriage it float to the husband and sons.
Outside the home men bravely admire women who takes stand for social changes and gender equality but sadly what they condemn outside is they never support at home. My mother and I also faced many problems in this patriarchal society while living in Balochistan but stayed strong and raised our voices for what is going wrong. My childhood friend was the victim of this early child marriage system, she was just 16 when forcefully she was sold by her father, at 18 she had two miscarriages.
Another form of gender discrimination is sexual harassment which is faced by transgender especially at work, people thrown jokes on them and passes critical comments. Empowering women with better education, being sensitive towards their health problems, ensuring equal job opportunities and respecting their rights will go a long way in transforming Pakistan. This should also be a major motivation for them to vote. Although in many countries women are achieving equality in health, education, economic resources, scholarships and maternal health. Fatima Jinnah, Benazir Bhutto, Arfa Karim, Nazia Hasan and Malala Yousafzai are some famous pioneers of Pakistan who worked for the betterment of Pakistan. There are some steps which must be taken to stop this inequality:
- Increase girl’s access to education and economic opportunities
- Supporting maternal health and child health
- Increasing women political and civic participation
- Child Marriages and sexual harassment should be stopped
- Talk to women and girls
- Let girls use mobile phones
- Empower mothers
- Give proper value to women’s work
- Get women into power
- Work together
- Transgender should get the opportunity to vote
- Stop the domestic violence
I strongly believe that empowering women with better education, being sensitive towards their health problems, ensuring equal job opportunities and respecting their rights will go a long way in transforming Pakistan. All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law. Article 25 states, “There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex alone.” Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) always promoted the due rights of women and gave them the highest respect. Being a fresh Graduate in English Literature I have wrote many research papers on several issues but my one paper really got acceptance and frame which entitled
Studies investigate the depiction and portrayal of female protagonists of selected novels in social and economic sphere across the cultures in English literature. Previously, there was no investigation on depiction of women across cultures in these pages of English literature. This study will ventures to describe the mentioned areas and novels in which the position and role of women is depicted particularly.
I think I am a feminist and supports female especially when they raise their voices, and take stand for what is going wrong with them. We women and transgender have equal rights, they also deserve to live their live the way they want, schools should be made for them as well, their dreams should not be crushed upon. People are working for them as well and making people aware of their rights. Last year one Pakistani drama was casted on ARY Digital “Khuda mera bhi hai” which really got famous it was on this transgender issue. Now one more drama is coming on same channel “Cheekh” which is about women empowerment and raising voice in this patriarchal society.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
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