How does one define a woman? The countless societies and opinions define this term in contrast. How would a woman define herself, you might wonder. In her words, it’s a gently crafted flesh with divine elements. Our reasoning suggests that the condition of women has been at the breaking point since the creation of mortals. However, the deities in numerous ancient cultures share similar abilities that differ from the usual opinions. They aren’t just of love and affection. They are goddesses of war and rage. Something that the current developing world has restricted to a man. Greek Mythology contains many examples of female deities who hold immense power. However, our rational brain wonders why the goddess made of stone remained the respected ones while the real-life personifications were sacrificed as an offering to them.
The ancestors brought the self-constructed taboos and ultimately passed them on to the next generation. I believe we have fallen from grace, but it’s crucial to stand up to keep your seat in the elections of power.
Women eventually had enough of their forced sacrifices in the early 1900s, and history began writing itself before someone could manipulate it. The International Women’s day we celebrate today has been kept in the records for over a century.
15,000 women planted the seed of success in New York and watered it by protesting for better pay, the right to vote, and shorter working hours. This event is also considered the first feminist wave that brought a shift in the position of women in society. The world has moved on to other issues since then. However, our beloved country is yet to catch the train. The status of women in Pakistan differs considerably across classes, regions, and the rural/urban divide. Compared to the one living in a less developed area, a female residing in a city has better access to education. The environment a girl child grows up in differs from a male and determines their respective futures. We’ve witnessed countless gruesome cases involving women due to the deep-rooted patriarchy, but we’ve also seen women of all backgrounds prove their resilience through their tireless efforts.
The false beliefs of the subcontinent required a thorough pressure wash for the fungus to detach itself from the roots. The country that claims to be free. How come one specific gender remained handcuffed to stereotypes? Women carried the responsibility of unlocking themselves and pushing through by forming alliances and gaining knowledge about their rights. Eventually, Pakistani women earned the right to vote in 1956, and since then have held high offices, including that of the Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition, and have proven to be excellent judges. Almost ten years of struggle for freedom bore fruits.
Many examples come to our minds while talking about Pakistani women who changed the course of history. Renowned leader Fatima Jinnah, with immense support from her brother Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, built feminist organizations to eliminate socio-economic injustices against women in the country. Pakistan has borne fruits in the form of gifted women who have revived the incomparable power and intellect of the ancient queens. Benazir Bhutto, Asma Jahangir, Arfa Karim, Malala, and the countless girls and young women sneaking to schools under the dictatorship of the extremists. Despite being surrounded by terrors from dusk till dawn, Pakistani women continue to resist and play a significant role in the country’s development and have gained international fame for playing prominent roles in different aspects. Female Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy took the country to new heights by becoming the first Pakistani Oscar Winner in 2012 and made her mark again in 2016. Moreover, Grammy-nominated singer Arooj Aftab has proved the immense talent that breathes within every resilient Pakistani woman. These stories also prove that we simply need support and an opportunity to carve our names in the hall of fame.
Now, ending this article with an important note that needs your undivided attention. International Women’s day isn’t celebrated to degrade men as some radical feminists and extremists might suggest or claim. We celebrate our freedom from the clutches of uneducated individuals who grew up in a stereotypical environment, gained enough education, yet refused to unlearn their ways. This piece of writing isn’t just to praise women for their efforts and sacrifices to provide a better future for the generations to come, we’re well aware it’s Women’s day. The 48.54 % of the female population urges the men to join hands and connect intellects in finding ways through the existing hurdles and preparing to rip the patriarchy from its roots. We might be the two wheels of a vehicle, but we require fuel to run smoothly. Harmony is the fuel. Pakistan is still engulfed in menacing ancient practices, and many people refuse to help eliminate them and start anew. This Women’s Day, support your mothers, sisters, daughters, coworkers, and friends to achieve the basic right to exist as an individual, without the fear of being sacrificed like the old times. Help the country unlearn the old syllabus and produce an advanced course. Happy Women’s Day, dear readers.
