History of International Women’s Day observance dates back to 28 Feb 1909 in New York, when for the first time women staged a march to commemorate what originally used to be National Women’s Day, first proposed by an activist Theresa Markiel. The legend has it, that it was organized to commemorate the protest of women garment workers on March 8, 1857. Inspired by the proposal, 17 countries agreed to promote women rights through this platform. It officially was observed internationally on March 19, 1911.
The appeal of the message didn’t remain restricted to the western progressive and capitalist societies, rather it seeped into communist countries too. From Russia it made its way into China in 1922, where it was declared a half day of work for women in 1949. The growing mass appeal ushered in a new generation of feminists calling for equal pays, equal opportunities, legal rights, reproductive rights and prevention of violence against women. United Nations officially adopted International Women’s Day in 1975, a year itself celebrated as International Women’s Year.
As per National Census-2017, Pakistani women are 48.76 percent of the country’s total population, who were given voting rights within nine years of its independence in 1956. The role of womenfolk in our independence from the British rule is known and well acknowledged. Ladies like Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah and Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan contributed to the cause and became the beacon of light to many marginalized women. The world has seen symbolic empowerment of Pakistani women, who have been holding public offices as high as prime minister, speaker of National Assembly, justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan and generals in Pakistan Army, but that still is not the complete picture. The roles and status of women differ drastically, for different strata of society. This side of picture is not as bright, but rather is dark and needs to be explored and analyzed.
Proportional to the diversity of Pakistani society is the heterogeneous nature of challenges women face, pertaining to their perceived roles, stature and financial wellbeing. Foremost fissure appears as the urban/rural divide which is a direct outcome of uneven socio-economic conditions. A woman is at a disadvantageous position mostly from her birth, as a baby girl. The prevailing mindset in rural side of the divide inherently and even that of urban society grants, to some extent, sons a preferential treatment, expecting them to take on the mantle of the family. Despite all types of awareness raising tools and paraphernalia at hand, our society still suffers from this syndrome.
Education is yet another poor socio-economic indicator when it comes to making a difference for women across the country. The issue is further compounded due to high dropout rates, limiting the educated output amongst the gender. Literacy rate amongst women stands at 48 percent as compared to 70 percent amongst men. Social taboos particularly in the backward areas keep many young girls away from primary and secondary education.
Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and relevant data reveal that one in every eighty-nine mothers die due to maternal complications. Women in rural areas are less likely to get access to hospital at the time of delivery as compared to urban areas. Home births are common, 74 percent of babies in rural areas are delivered at home, which pushes the mortality rate to 23 percent in rural areas. Access to ante natal and post-natal care is also a major healthcare concern.
Legal battles which otherwise are an uphill task for a common man in prevailing system of justice, assumes added enormity for womenfolk in Pakistan. Those fighting for their rights being widows, divorcees or employees have to face untold rigors. Legal cover for such cases and issues is either not forthcoming or is so long drawn that the rights one is fighting for get relegated in priority. A number of laws have been enacted to protect the rights of women in the country, Acid Control Act 2011, Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Act 2011, Criminal Law Act 2016 (offenses in the name of name or pretext of honor), to name a few. Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace, Act 2010 is considered a landmark law in support of women rights. Given that there is no dearth of law making in support of women in Pakistan, yet crimes against women are being committed unabated.
Mentioned above are few of the issues which women of Pakistan face today as we celebrate International Women’s Day. Moving back in the reverse order, with a plethora of acts and laws in place for women protection, women are still being subjected to acid attacks, are being sexually harassed at their workplaces, honor killings are still a routine affair. The reason, one and only, is that we stagger at the implementation stage of the laws, we enact. Seldom have we seen end to end logical conclusion of cases providing relief and justice to victimized women.
Access to healthcare and education facilities for women is in fact and effect two fold and interlinked. Health awareness for and amongst women is directly related to education itself, one. Two, it has always been on developmental agenda of successive governments but the outreach of the same has remained limited. Rural areas especially those in Sindh and Baluchistan still need to be prioritized. Change of mindsets regarding woman health needs a change too, through education. Only healthy and educated mothers can help transform a society.
Commemorating days are a subtle reminder for action, which we must do through evolution of an equal-opportunity, all-inclusive, zero-gender-bias society to protect the rights of women in Pakistan. Women on the other hand should not only look for role models of modern era but should take motivation from revered women of Islamic history like Hazrat Khadija (SAA) and Hazrat Fatima (SAA) – who represent an epitome of entrepreneurship and who are also role models as housewives for women – to contribute positively to the society. So much to say on this women’s day.
