Day: February 14, 2010

Reem Wasay

While they staged rallies to bring the women’s liberation movement to the forefront in the West, we were being silenced into submission, while they rectified their divorce laws to grant an egalitarian position to the women who screamed for freedom, we were still battling with our polygamous traditions.

I am no fan of patriarchal mindsets; I rather admire the utopian concept of equal emancipation and I sure as hell am no devotee to the cause of anti-feminist deliberations, but I have to hand it to our high-strung politicians to bring me crashing down from my pedestal of double-gaited nobility to ask: why are women allowed to speak in parliament? Considering all the rubbish spewing forth by most of them whenever a pack of pencil pushers jostles together in what is commonly referred to as a meeting of the Assembly, why does one even bother waiting on the verdicts issued henceforth? That is not to say their male counterparts are any better but that ought to come as no surprise considering how men are, well, just being men.

In an uncalled for outburst by MPA Shahzadi Tiwana on how women parliamentarians parked comfortably on reserved seats were somehow less suited to their positions in the assembly than elected members such as herself, is remindful of just how petty and vindictive our politicians have become. Citing women who have travelled the cushier road by taking advantage of the reserved seats directive as somehow occupying the bottom-rung of the political ladder is a machete to her own mettle, considering that all allegations point to Ms Tiwana entering the political domain as a reserved seat holder during her stint with the Q-League faction. Possessing a feudal disposition is not becoming in this day and age of equal opportunities Ms Tiwana, especially when harnessing a public office where the affairs and afflictions burdened by the public ought to be of more sizeable concern. The term public ‘servant’ should be taken quite literally, lest you feel the diction in itself is beneath you. However, it must be noted that this snide remark was made in response to the claims of yet another female parliamentarian, Samina Khawar Hayat, of being verbally harassed in the arena of sexual referral by a male colleague (and we just passed a bill on?). It is funny how the assembly has become a soapbox for personal conflict and uncalled for vendettas, when the platform in itself is one of the most elemental in the government’s manifesto in approaching the grievances of the public. Although a trivial matter at best, this little adventure in frivolity illustrates perfectly just how affairs of the state and the citizen have been relayed to the backburner to make way for more ‘pressing’ manoeuvres in political mandates. Amidst credit card capers, allegations of bed-hopping to reach the top, attacks and counter-attacks on character flaws and legislation proposals to make your stomach churn – Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor’s calling for a ban on a the mobile phone except for the privileged (read politicians) members of society – this is an Assembly worth castigating.

Although the male members of our Assembly are much more maudish in their leanings, views and overall expressions, in a male chauvinistic society where women have borne the brunt of intolerance and prejudice, to see our female representatives act in such a blockheaded manner is a right slap in the face of actual liberators of the embargo on female salvation.

Women the world over have fought for rights that have been too long in the making and too formidable in the coming. While they burned bras in the West, we were being burned alive by the men who owned us, while they staged rallies to bring the women’s liberation movement to the forefront, we were being silenced into submission, while they rectified their divorce laws to grant an egalitarian position to the women who screamed for freedom, we were still battling with our polygamous traditions. Finally, some vestige of equal opportunity seems to be emerging from the rubble that is gender discrimination in this part of the world, and we have women who are so far from indulging in intelligent dialogue and policy making that it makes me wonder if the whole women in politics bit is a sham to once again elevate the diluted aptitude of men. Think about it; if the women thrust in legislative designations prove themselves to be inept at possessing sound cerebral regulation, they will only enhance the bigoted opinions that men and society already enjoy: a woman’s place is in the home.

Pakistani women are some of the most violated and exploited in the world. Cultural conventions and age-old praxis have rendered us monopolised muppets upon whom ugly precedents have been set. Women who do not employ the indulgences forgiven the bourgeois are bartered and compromised like cattle when it comes to settling a male incited dispute, more than 300 women are killed to defend blighted family honour almost every year, young girls are married off to catheter carrying old men before they hit puberty lest they be mature enough to decide for themselves, and rape is a catchphrase frequently enlisted to subdue and overpower the wilfulness of women across the country’s landscape. Against such brazen odds, the Pakistani woman is still seen persevering and emerging as a force to be reckoned with.

It is sad, then, that, when she requires representation in the global circumstance, her spokesperson is someone who cannot seem to see beyond her own limited fixations. Closed minds will lead to dead ends and petty deviations will do nothing to set our already blemished human rights record straight. It is about time our ambassadors concentrated more on their own kiln. Lord knows we have had to battle men since time immemorial; we do not need women at the top if they are going to be remembered for nothing but their nuisance value. As we have proved, we deserve better than that.

The writer is a staff member and participant of the Salzburg Trilogue and an essayist and lecturer on interfaith discourse and social analysis. She can be reached at reemk80@gmail.com

Source: Daily Times

Date:2/14/2010

Ghazi Salahuddin

How fast can a Pakistani woman run? Well, among other things, this mainly depends on whether she is allowed to take the field.

We can be certain about her potential, though, irrespective of the burdens she carries in our socially oppressive society. Even today, there are areas in Pakistan where women are forced to live as the prisoners of a primitive way of life.

But then we also have Naseem Hameed – right now the fastest woman in South Asia. She won a gold medal in the 100-metre race in the 11th South Asian Games held in Dhaka. She was given a rousing welcome when she returned home, to Karachi, few days back. Coming almost out of nowhere, she has become a celebrity.

What we need to celebrate is not just the fact that a female Pakistani athlete has triumphed in a sporting competition. The real story here is about who she actually is and where she comes from. We should be grateful to the news channels and the manner in which they have followed this human interest story that the entire country has virtually met Naseem’s parents and seen her one-room home in Korangi.

In that sense, it rather seems like a fairytale with Naseem being the Cinderella of Korangi and an inspiration for other girls like her who belong to relatively poor families and who long to prove their abilities. The situation would have been a different one if a Pakistani female gold medalist in an athletic competition had come from a well-to-do and ‘respectable’ family, having been educated in some prestigious private institution.

It has been said that Naseem is a role model for girls of poor families. This is a valid observation. However, the genuine role models in this story are her parents. They are the ones we should know more about to understand how the almost illiterate and impoverished parents of a girl child were able to encourage her daughter to take to athletics. Her mother, particularly, comes out as a wise and courageous person.

Do we also have some intimations here of the direction in which the Pakistani society is changing? This is a difficult question to answer. But yes, there should be no doubt about the route that history would compel us to take. It is imperative for progress to liberate and educate women. The religious orthodoxy with which we are so severely afflicted remains an obstacle for the meaningful emancipation of women. Equally problematic are our tribal and feudal norms that strive to relegate women into a state of servility and submission.

Naseem’s example, however, gives us hope. It is also a reminder that within the huge underclass, there exist great talent and ambition. Beyond the gender issue, the Pakistani youth in itself is a resource that is threatening to become a dangerous liability. It is good that Naseem is now being showered with praise and monetary rewards. The life of her family is bound to change — and this is judicious recompense for the struggle and spirit of Naseem’s parents.

Nevertheless, we need to raise the question that why, at least a part of this recognition, had not come before Naseem left for Dhaka. Why was she not popularly known as an aspirant to the glory that she finally achieved? Obviously, we do not have a very efficient network of training facilities and talent scouting. It should be noted that excellence in sports is also a measure of a country’s development. The entire process is plugged into the educational system. Look at the medals that different countries win in Olympics. The developed countries remain at the top and we figure almost as low as we do in UNDP’s Human Development Index.

With this celebration of Naseem’s success, attention was somewhat diverted from another female gold medalist in the South Asian Federation Games in Dhaka. Sara Nasir won her medal in Karate, another evidence of the potential of our women and how it may change their status in society. Still, I think that Naseem’s example is more inspiring and socially momentous. She has risen from the depth of poverty and social injustice.

Incidentally, I had earlier thought of selecting another subject for this column appearing on February 14. Today, of course, is the Valentine’s Day and the way in which it is being celebrated in Pakistan, with its meretricious commercialism, is another sign of freedom that our young people are stressing for. In this case, changes that have been instituted by technological innovations such as mobile phones and internet have played a large part. Meanwhile, these trends also aggravate conflicts between the orthodox and the supposedly modern factions of our society. Many of our educated, urban young women see today’s rituals as a sign of their empowerment.

Well, it was actually not the Valentine’s Day that I had in mind to mark this second Sunday of February. The Chinese New Year also begins today. And this time, it is the Year of the Tiger. For a huge population of this world, today is a day of great celebration. The Chinese calendar is lunar and in their astrology, every year is named after an animal, in a cycle of 12 houses of the zodiac.

Just as the beginning of a Gregorian year, the calendar that rules our secular lives, is marked by forecasts and predictions about everything, there is a rush of predictions about the Year of the Tiger as well. What I found most amusing is that its beginning on the Valentine’s Day is not seen as auspicious for lovers. In fact, it is seen not to be a good year for getting married and there was a rush for tying the knot before today. This year is also called the ‘widow year’.

Other predictions, too, are not cheerful, though like politicians, soothsayers can be in opposite camps. I noticed this particularly in their predictions about President Obama. One prominent fortune-teller has said, as quoted by a foreign news agency, that fires and explosions are more likely in the coming year. Another asked people to beware of earthquakes, volcanoes and ‘metal-related’ accidents, like car crashes and industrial accidents. The previous Year of the Tiger that was associated with metal was 1950 — the year the Korean War broke out.

Let me conclude with this forecast by a Hong Kong feng shui advisor: “People will try to take on the strong and help the weak. They will try to help their fellow brothers. They will help friends who are being bullied. This year will be more violent”.

Does this promise some hope or offers a warning?
The writer is a staff member. Email: ghazi_salahuddin@hotmail .com

Source: The News

Date:2/14/2010

HATS off to Naseem Hameed for winning the women’s 100-metre race at the South Asian Games in Dhaka and bringing a gold medal for Pakistan. The nation is proud of her.

No wonder, tribute and financial help should come to a girl, who belongs to a lower middle class family, from all over Pakistan – from President Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad to the sports ministry, Karachi Nazim and chief of the Pakistan Olympic Association.

There is, however, one extraordinary phenomenon about it. The plethora of women’s organisations in Pakistan has kept quiet, and not one of them has come out of their political cocoons to pay tribute, much less give financial aid to the daughter of a poor family.

We have scores of NGOs for women, and no dearth of busy begums flying jetliners so as not to miss a photo-op. Yet none of them has regarded Naseem’s achievements worth their time and consideration. I may have missed it in my newspaper, but I tried hard to read other papers and watched TV and was disappointed. I failed to find a woman leader or some women NGO coming up with some grant for her and urging girls throughout Pakistan to draw inspiration from a girl athlete whose “lightning” speed, to quote a news agency, stunned everybody at the Games.

RIZWAN YASSIN
Karachi

Source: Dawn

Date:2/14/2010