State of Women in Pakistan

State of Women in Pakistan

Essay State of Women in Pakistan Introduction: Woman is one of the best creatures of the universe. She has been equally endowed ... 13:10:00

Essay

State of Women in Pakistan

Introduction:

Woman is one of the best creatures of the universe. She has been equally endowed with in terms of intellect, prudence and rights as man has been.The state of woman in Pakistan as compared to man are awfully miserable. She is badly victim of domestic violence and sexual assaults at working places. She is indeed meted out with massive atrocity and injustice. She is being denied her due social, economic, political and financial rights. She suffers badly in pursuit of her fundamental rights.
Surprisingly enough, she has been deprived of her basic birth right of education which is the best source of women empowerment. It is only education that can empower her not only socially but also financially and professionally. It will be because of education that helps her widen the mental horizon. Thus, it is an undeniable fact that provision of education to every ordinary woman on the basis of equality can considerably change her fate. Undoubtedly, education plays a role of backbone in the development of woman at every level.
The state of rural women as compared to urban ones needs urgent attention. The rural women are undergoing worst experiences at the hands of feudal lards. The have been kept vastly ignorant of their fundamental rights such as education, health, participation in politics, professional and financial liberty. They being illiterate and uneducated can not fight for their basic rights. This gruesome state of woman is just because of lack of education.
Inevitably enough, poor economic condition of woman has badly told upon state of woman. She has no say in any domestic affairs of life. She has been victim of male dominance. It is only male, who is to wield power in both domestic and private affairs of life. Whether it be choice of marriage, casting votes and some other financial and professional matters.
There is another social evil of our society which is feudalism. It wipes out the entire factors which help woman to be empowered. It has really become a stumbling block in woman Empowerment. This social evil urgently needs to be addressed so that the chances of woman empowerment can became possible in the near future.
Truly speaking, the poor state of woman can only be improved by promoting education ranging from primary to higher level and opening up the doors of opportunity for jobs in different departments. So that they can become socially, economically, politically and professionally strong.

Factors which mar state of women in Pakistan
Ø Illiteracy
Ø Poverty
Ø Feudalism
Ø Weak institution
Ø Judiciary
Ø Parliament
Ø Executive
Ø Lack of Political awareness
Ø Cultural barriers
Ø Misinterpretation of Islam in terms of woman empowerment
Ø Corrupt media

Illiteracy:

Illiteracy indeed is a big obstacle to the social, economic and political development of woman. It has rendered common woman the helpless, voiceless and ignorant of their basic privileges. They being illiterate and under privileged cannot voice against the atrocities meted out to them. They have been reduced to extreme voracity and hunger. The developed nations of the world are encouraging woman empowerment by promoting standard education to women. Thus, they become strong not only socially and economically but also politically and professionally while the less developed countries are questing for foreign aid in terms of female education and spends a negligible amount of education and the rest of the amount is to be swallowed by the corrupt people and overlooking the standard of female education. As a result, most of the women remain illiterate and become unaware about their birth rights of education.
Finally, if education is given to women, they can easily become able to snatch their fundamental rights. They can also become capable of doing profession and thus avoiding the pangs of hunger and voracity.
Truly speaking, promotion of education among women can enable them to be economically and politically strong. Thus, they will stop depending upon their parents in terms of financial support.

Poverty:

It is well said that poverty is the mother of crime or revolution. So far it has not brought about revolution in society but it has surely raised the ratio of crime in society. Poverty and illiteracy are inextricably interwoven with each other. Illiteracy breeds poverty and poverty creates crime and crime disrupts the whole social economic. As a result, not only the women but also the entire society suffers at the hands of poverty. There is no doubt about it that poverty has rendered common women unable to attain even primary education. Thus many a woman falls prey to it becoming helpless and fed up. It is only because of poverty that woman is socially, economically and politically weak. If all women were rich enough to deal with all affairs of life, they could exercise enormous influence in every spheres of life. They usually depend on their male members in terms of economic and social security. Resultantly, they turn, to be enormously weak and fragile. Poverty has really affected on the creative ability of women. It has bred numerous hindrances in the way of women’s intellectual development. As it is rightly said that hungry man is angry man. It means when you are hungry, you are not in a position to do any work effectively. Thus it can safely be said that if poverty remains intact then there is a greater unlikelihood of women empowerment and the state of poor woman cannot improve in near future.

Feudalism:

Feudalism is a greater impediment to social, economic and political development of women. It has utterly damaged the state of women in Pakistan. Feudalistic attitude in any society is not a good omen. It often discourages national development of a country.
Regrettably enough, the state of women in Pakistan has been reduced to the beasts and animals. It is only feudal who exercise absolute power over women and their male member are at their call and back. They dare not voice against their opinions or views. They are their slaves and nothing more. The poor farmers whether male or female heavily depend on them for their livelihood. They have no any source of income except harboring the fields of landlords. Moreover, feudalism is a huge hindrance to educational development whether it is for girls or boys. They don’t allow the government to build schools in their premises. If government does this forcibly such schools soon are turned into go downs or animals quarters. As a result, no girl and boy can get education. They think that if they acquire education, then we will not be able to lead them by their nose. In this way, they want to keep them illiterate throughout life so that they may not be able to demand of their basic rights. Surprisingly enough, it is feudal who promote culture of honor killing and discourage the factors leading towards better state of women.

Weak institutions:

The Institutions of Pakistan are judiciary, parliament and executive. All of them are almost failed to provide social, political and economic justice to women. The reasons as to why they are failure in provision of social, economic and political justice is discussed below respectively.
Judiciary: It is well said that justice delayed justice denied. It means that just judiciary plays a vital role in catering immediate justice. But here the condition of justice is painfully miserable. The person seeking for immediate justice and it is found no where in our society. Poor women are suffering from sheer injustice at the hands of judiciary. It has become absolutely incapable of imparting justice. It has become dishonest and corrupt. Corruption has died down their economic and making those living dead.
Parliament: parliament is one of the great institutions of Pakistan. It consists of the elected representatives of the four provinces. It is a supreme power of the country. It legislate various bills and policies for the betterment of the country. It has passed a number of laws for innumerable purposes of the country; so far it has also passed many a law for protection of women rights. Different governments have passed different ordinances and laws for the social and economic security of women. Zia regime passed hudood ordinance in which women were safeguarded against sexual assaults and adultery. Qazf was also promoted in his regime for the social security of women. Qazf is a false allegation of adultery against woman, if it proves false; the man will be subject to punishment.
Musharaf government encouraged woman empowerment at a considerable level various ordinances were passed for enhancement of woman empowerment. Woman protection bill was also enacted in his regime which further made woman socially strong. After the overthrow of Musharaf government the government of Pakistan people’s party came and passed a law of domestic violence against woman and the laws of sexual harassment against woman at working places were passed. Thus they strengthened the position of woman in society. In spite of all the bills or laws the poor woman is still in a pitiable condition. These laws are passed in the parliament but when it comes to implementations the things appear quite contrary. As a result a woman who is extremely poor and has no access to attain justice suffers at the hands of weak institutions.
Executive: Parliament makes different laws and executive implements it in a country. But the implementation of law is least to be found in this country. Law enforcement agencies are themselves victim of corruption. They have failed to enforce law in the country effectively.
Police department concerned with crime happening everyday in the country has not yielded positive results in terms of reducing crime. The poor women who are daily victimized at the hands of certain criminals are not given adequate and human treat men by the police officials. Women are insecure when they are in the custody of police. They are inevitably prone to sexual assaults by the police officials. The women who came in quest of relief fall prey to brutal treatment by the concerned officials. We need to think about it and it will have to take a way out for the securities of women so that they cannot fall succumb to their brutal and beast- like treatment in near future.

Lack of political awareness:

Lack of political awareness has also wreaked havoc on the socio-economic and political development of women. They are being politically unaware do not yearn for their political rights.
Undoubtedly, political awareness can further strengthen the position of women in every walk of life. After being politicized, they will earn greater knowledge about the political issues all over the world. Thus they will begin snatching their basic political and economic rights. The role of politicians for the widespread political activism among women has not been satisfactory enough. Indeed, they are supposed to be politicizing women about vari0ous issues pertaining to women’s political rights. This poor and miserable state of women has greatly affected to their contribution in political affairs of life. Surprisingly enough, most of the women do not know about the value of their votes. They are quite ignorant of it and do not ponder over it that it can play a decisive role in helping any party to win by the margin of one vote. It is the crying need of the hour that our politicians should take this issue very seriously so that the state of poor and wretched women can be improved not only politically bout also socially and economically.

Cultural Barriers:

Cultural barriers are too big hindrances to the socio-economic development of women. It has ruthlessly marred the state women especially in Pakistan. Rigid and narrow attitude of male members toward women have helplessly made women dependent and short sighted.
It is surprising to say, that Pakistani society is male-domestic as well as private affairs of life. It has massively rendered women helpless, voiceless and destitute. The state of miserable women can not improve until cultural barriers of our society be rationalized and educated well. So that the condition of women can considerably be altered in terms of professional, social and economic liberty. Most of the people do not allow their children especially daughters to do a job and they think it to be a bad omen for them. It is their mindsets that disallow their children doing a job. As a result, many a woman suffers professionally and economically. When their as a question of marriage at their whim. Women or girls are not given the permission for their choice marriage as they remain under the thumb of male members who are to exercise absolute power in do most affairs of life. Thus women experience sheer injustice at the hands of parents. As a result, women have been chained in cultural chains which restrict their personal freedom. Finally, the women empowerment cannot be developed unless they are given professional and financial liberty.
Misinterpretation of Islam about women empowerment:
Misinterpretation of Islam about women empowerment has also been contradictory. The religious scholars of the county are not portraying the real Islamic teachings in terms of improving the state of women.
Historically speaking, Islam is teeming with numerous examples about the liberty of women in professional as well as personal liberty. Bibi khadeja the first wife of the Prophet was a business woman. She used to run her business not only in Arabia but also some other countries. It means Islam had permitted women for being professional and the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was her employee who used to visits the different countries by virtue of business. There is another glaring example about women’s being professional and warrior. Bibi Aysha Prophet’s wife a war against Hazrat Ali. It means that she can wage a war participate in it. Thus it is proven from the facts of Islam that women are free to be professionals and adopt any way that can protect her basic rights of liberty. But regrettably the ulema of Islam are not discussing these basic issues of women empowerment in open public. They can address these issues at the occasion of Juma prayer frequently and this frequent discussion can remove rigid and narrow minded approach toward women. Reqular Juma prayer address regarding the state of women in Pakistan can mould the opinion of common men in favour of women. In this way every ordinary man will be vastly aware of the rights of women. As a result, of all these repeated address, as about women empowerment can help the masses to care for the privileges of women. But what happens here that every ulema belonging to the lower category who are virtually hailing from villages admit in madressa for the purpose of gaining religious knowledge. Now how can man hailing from village can easily understand the multi dimensional modern scientific trends and requirements of the globe. This seems quite impossible that this kind of man may represent true Islam. He cannot fathom out the various global phenomena such as woman empowerment, rise of democracy, professional and personal liberty, religious tolerance.
Finally, the role of ulema can play an effective role in bringing about the improvement in the state of women and it can further develop the state of women in better condition.

Corrupt media:

Corrupt media men have played havoc with socio-economic and political development of women. It has not yielded positive result yet. It has failed to protect the real state of women of Pakistan at international level. Majority of the poor women being victim of domestic or professional violence cannot cast their viewpoints before any authorized organization of the state. The reason as to why the media has not reached them is lack of access to the far flung areas of the country. Most of the media men demand for certain amount of rupees for projecting their issue at national as well as international level. These are number of women who die of hunger daily. They cannot eke out their living comfortably. The media persons are absolutely reluctant to spread the news at a considerable level. But on the contrary they make fun of their misery and plight. In this way one can find such examples in our society on daily basis.
Now it is our responsibility being citizens of the country that we should exercise enormous pressure on the media men to end this brutal trend of women harassment which bitterly mass the state of women.

The factors that can foster women development are as under:
• Promotion of education among women.
• Reduction of poverty.
• Abolition of feudalism.
• Strong institution ensuring women empowerment.
• Social, political, cultural financial and professional liberty among women.
• Positive role f religions in terms of women empowerment.
• Job opportunities for women.
• Legislation on honor-killing, child marriage and vatta-satta system of marriage.
Promotion of education among women:
Promotion of education among women at primary and secondary level can greatly improve the state of women in Pakistan. Indeed it is education that renders common women socially politically and economically strong. When they become strong, they stop being dependent on their parents in terms of support. Thus the state of women can highly be improved by the incredible enhancement of education among them.

Reduction of poverty:

This is an undeniable fact that poverty has wreaked havoc with socio-economic and political development of women. It is poverty that has made them unable to get standard education. It is because of lack of education less access to wealth that women face sheer injustice and torture at the hands of cruel and barbaric people. They bear that torture and persecution in ignorance. As a result, most women fall succumb to depression and dejection. If the government of Pakistan and other several NGOs working for the reduction of the poverty take it serious and start pondering over the plight of woman that she suffers because of abject poverty can easily be managed so as to make the state of women better and worth living.

Abolition of Feudalism:

Truly speaking, it is feudalism that has brought common woman to the verge of destruction and devastation. It has become a great hurdle in improving the state of Pakistan woman. It has incredibly discouraged promotion of education of both male and female in rural areas in particular and common in urban areas. It means it has utterly damaged the state of women in Pakistan. Now it is the crying need of the hour that it must be wiped out of the face of the globe so that the state of woman and colossal development at national level can be ensured for the better future of the country. Because developed countries of the world see the development of women in different sphere of life. Later they call the developed countries the developed ones. If the state of women is not plausible then they do not call it a developed country.

Strong institutions:

Strong institutions play a vital role in developing socio-economic and political condition of women. Undoubtedly, strong institutions can certainly provide for speedy justice and viable implementations of different laws passed by the assembly. If these institutions start working effectively and honestly, nothing can do wrong in the country. All the developed countries, it is just because of their strong institutions that they face no pangs of torture and persecution at the hands of the institutions.
Again it is institutions that can help improve not only the oppressed women but also every segment of society, victim of any oppression and brutality. Social, political, cultural, financial and professional liberty can massively improve the state of women in Pakistan. Social and political development of women can help them to be socially and politically active and enabling them to participate in social-politico activities of life. This will enhance their intellectual and personal qualities. On the other hand, financial and professional liberty of women can also make them self reliant and self dependent. They will deal their matters of life on their won. They being professionally liberal begin their independent life depending on no body in terms of economy. Thus, socio-economic and political liberty of women can enormously add to the development of women in every walk of life.

Positive role of religious scholars in terms of women’s empowerment:

Religious scholars can play a positive role in bringing about improvement in the state of women. Ours is a highly religious society. It greatly influences their socio-economic spheres of life. It is religious scholars who can easily mould the opinions of various persons in terms of developing the social, economic and political development of women. Islam is also in favour of women empowerment. It was Islam which gave her due socio-economic rights. It never discouraged their professional and personal liberty. But here the ulemas of our country are not addressing there sensitive issues so as to develop their role in every walk of life. Last but not the least, the state of women can massively be improved if the role of our religious scholars remains positive and satisfactory.

Job opportunities for women:

Indubitably enough, job opportunities for women in different departments are very scanty. This has badly discouraged women from applying for the jobs. They have least means to scraps by. As a result, most of them get fed with seeking for something than can meet their incomes. Thus it is inevitably necessary that our government should open the doors of opportunities for their jobs in various departments so that they can make the best of their abilities in earning certain amount of sum and lead an easy and comfortable life. This will further encourages the women empowerment and make them excited for applying next time for the jobs.
Legislation on honour, killing, child marriage of girls and system of vatta-satta marriage:
Traditional honour-killing, child marriage of girls and system of vatta-satta marriage has awfully maligned the state of women in Pakistan. These hateful traditional practices are extremely obnoxious for women development. If the present phenomenon remains intact, the development of women at socio-economic and political level might be least possible. It is now crying need of the hour that government of Pakistan, should legislate on these sensitive issues which halt women empowerment at a large scale parliament, judiciary and executive may take strong measures in order to tackle these in for moldable problems which are extremely injurious to the social, economic, political professional progress of women. If these institutions are failed to cope with these issues then surely the state of women in Pakistan is in great jeopardy.

Conclusion:

Finally, the state of women can only be improved on the basis of promotion of education, greater participation in politics and widespread awareness about social, economic and political issues. Professional and financial liberty can further improve the state of women. Reduction of poverty and feudalism can open numerous chances for the improvement of the state of woman in Pakistan. Positive role of religious scholars and media can hopefully ameliorate the miserable state of women in to a pleasant one. Last but not the least, the role of strong and cogent institutions can also heighten the state of women of Pakistan.