November 25, 2013

Reassigning our gender role

By: Hilde Jacobs

As soon as women come out of their dependence on men, the problem of gender inequality and discrimination against girls will disappear

The article by Haroon Mustafa Janjua, ‘To be a woman in Pakistan’ (Daily Times, October 15, 2013) is a very well written contribution to the general description of women living in Pakistan. Although being a German citizen I experienced an almost-rape in Karachi where I was married to a very kind and loving Muslim diplomat many years ago, I was only saved due to my strong will to teach the rapist a lesson by biting his hand severely the moment he tried to keep me from shouting for help. Allah was with me of course when this rascal took his hands off me because he was distorted with pain. Therefore, I could flee without being raped.

But then, I asked myself what would have happened in case of a real rape? Would I have been stoned or condemned and told to bring four male witnesses to court? I cannot find a satisfactory reply.

Coming to know an intellectual couple in an urban area of Pakistan, he being a teacher/sociologist and she a teacher, I was shocked to learn that both are living, closely connected, in a sort of ‘fool’s paradise’, firmly believing they are a happy, loving couple.

This couple only separates when going to work and in the evening when the husband goes off to meet male friends with the intention of having a chat, a smoke and a cup of whatever, keeping all this secret from his wife. The wife stays at home. When I pointed out to the husband that probably he would not like his wife behaving as he does, he lamented, “But what am I to do? My wife does not like me to smoke and drink inside our house.” This argument left me speechless.

What I think is even worse is his making the effort to hide his mental state from her. Out of misinterpreted care, he does not open his heart and mind to her. He is actually treating her like a child whom he does not trust to be strong enough to cope with all sorts of difficulties. This caring is of course well meant and I do not blame him for it but misunderstandings are bound to arise.

Whenever this husband has to go abroad for a couple of days, his wife is full of fear and distrust. Consequently, he has to ring her up several times a day. I wonder why she is scared. Is it jealousy? Is it fear he might not come back to her? On the other hand, he must be feeling like he lives in a cage, constantly under control and never coming to know how to use his ‘wings’. To end this chain of possessive love, distrust, concealment and lack of freedom, the wife could address her husband like this, “Look here, my dear husband, let us strike a compromise. You tell me frankly what you are doing outside the house and what your worries are, if any. After all, to be married means to share good and bad times. Please, do not spare me from harm and trouble, else you will make me feel less important for you. Together we will be able to move mountains if necessary! In return, I will trust you fully.”

How can people develop with increasing democracy and equality of gender if even those with intelligence do not have the slightest idea as to what true love between a male and female means? How can women be respected in general when husbands are looking for ways to flee the couple’s clinginess by betraying their wives?

I would like to go further: when a grown up woman does not know how to show her integrity, self-determination and self-respect to the man by claiming her right to equality then how do you expect the citizens or fanatics to care for the welfare and freedom of females from birth? The depictions given above are the reason why newly born female babies are not welcome.

As soon as women come out of their dependence on men, the problem of gender inequality and discrimination against girls will disappear. Rape, child-marriage and the expectations of women to ‘serve the master’ are partly created by females themselves. They are not yet aware that we are not living in the Middle Ages any more. It is quite comfortable for some married women to have somebody by their side deciding matters of the household, shopping, child education and budget finances. Instead of sharing these routine matters, they are left to the husband. Thus, he is the one who dominates the family although his wife is clever enough to make him believe, she is keeping things firmly under control.

What makes me sad is the fact that these women still depend on men and are not willing or are unable to support those few wonderful female examples slogging away on the improvement of the situation in Pakistan. Malala, a 16-year-old girl, has the courage to face not only the cruelties done to her and others by the Taliban but to face violence in general by open speech. Her stoic and persistent behaviour, when appearing as a fighter for women in regards to education and training, is a shining example for all of us. It makes me feel ashamed to be shown by a girl, almost a child, what heroism means. Why are we not following and supporting her? I do not know a single person with the guts to join her in her struggle for justice and freedom of choice concerning education and further studies for females. Should our admiration and praise for her remain nothing but lip service, instead of suiting the action to the word? It is beyond question that this would mean taking the risk of being shot by the Taliban just as it happened to dear young Malala. Are all of us too cowardly to take this risk for the sake of development and progress of girls and women in a country in dire need of social, economic and cultural adaptation?

I would like to ask all males in Pakistan: how will you carry on without women at all? If due to your hatred for girl-children there are no females left after you have killed them all, then who will care for your offspring? After all, males cannot bear children, can they?

At this point, I would like to call out finally to my dear Pakistani women: please, change your way of life! Be conscious of yourself! Be yourself! Do not continue to be self-denying! Show the power hidden in your body and soul! Show your husbands, brothers, sons and fathers that you are ready to carry your life in your hands. Do not be scared of the fact that your husbands might leave you due to egoistic reasons! Show them that you can do without them if necessary. Do not blame yourself for the misbehaviour of males. Do not self-pityingly cry about sexual violence and the autocratic behaviour of men. As Haroon Janjua states at the end of his excellent article I call on you: “It is not enough to weep. It is time to act.”

Hilde Jacobs is a German citizen and freelance columnist. She may be contacted at hilde.jacobs@gmx.de

Daily Times

November 25, 2013

Mystery shrouds woman’s death

LAHORE: A 23-year-old woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances at her home in Tajpura on Sunday.

The police shifted the body for autopsy after suspecting that the victim was hit by a bullet.

The police were called to a house by Falaksher who claimed that his daughter, Nadia, had shot herself in the head. The police seized the body and lifted forensic evidence. A police investigator said the victim received a bullet in the head from left side and the bullet came out of the head from right side, which showed that the woman did not shoot herself.

He said circumstantial evidence suggested that the girl was asleep at the time of shooting and that the empty shell was recovered beside the body on the bed.

The investigator further said the pistol was the property of a friend of the victim’s brother. He said the police would wait for the outcome of autopsy report to initiate further action. He said no one from family was taken into custody for the time being as the police initially believed in what the family stated.

Dawn

November 25, 2013

A woman empowered, empowering others

By: ANJUM IBRAHIM

Women contributions to the economy are typically understated in most countries as quantifying the contribution of a housewife remains a challenge for national data collectors but those women engaged in economic activity outside the home are well documented in most countries. And it is this documented sector that shows a marked difference between the Muslim and the rest of the world with the common perception being that Muslim countries like Pakistan do not provide the enabling environment for women to work or engage in business activities outside the home.

Shireen Arshad Khan, Pakistan’s first jewellery and dress designer with exhibitions of her products in more than 25 countries agrees. “I began designing jewellery and dresses around 30 years ago. And believe me it was not easy. My family including my husband was opposed to my being engaged in business and I had to fight my own family every step of the way but I was determined to make it a success,” she recalls. Her determination to succeed was premised on her passion for designing clothes and jewellery. “I would urge women entrepreneurs to allow their own talent, their skill set and capacity, to provide the guideline as to what business to engage in,” she advised. She accused several non-government organisations (NGOs) that grant vulnerable women access to capital at near zero interest rate of compelling women to engage in a business, usually sewing and embroidery, in which they may have little or no talent which not only results in the failure of the venture but also disables the borrower from paying back the loan that could be used to fund others. “This does not mean that I do not believe in education and training to fine-tune skills but skills need to be inherent even if they are dormant for any business to succeed,” she added.

Working capital, she acknowledged, was important but added that “in my case I began very small, designed one piece of jewellery and a dress or two and my clients were mainly friends/acquaintances. I did not market my products and success was by word of mouth. Over time I built up my business and was invited to be a member of Pakistani trade delegations to other countries. I have exhibited and sold my work in around 25 countries”.

Availability of capital is critical for the start of any business. Pakistan at present has around 30 microfinance providers that rely mainly on support from international donors. A recent study by the World Bank revealed that women are not the final beneficiaries of microfinance and 50 to 70 percent loans extended to women are actually channelled to male relatives. Many NGOs support the vulnerable, men and women, and among several others an organisation named Akhuat provides up to Rs 50,000 to the vulnerable – men and women – to start their own businesses. Akhuat, Ms Khan stated, has to its credit several success stories of men and women who were enabled to overcome their economic vulnerability.

Small and medium enterprises requiring higher capital support were the focus of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s statement on Friday while addressing the opening session of “Vision 2025 – Stakeholders Conference”. He announced a new scheme that he claimed would benefit an equal number of men and women. Ms Khan cited this as proof positive that the newly-elected government is committed to mainstreaming women in its policy to promote small and medium enterprises. Under the scheme banks would be encouraged to extend loans of 0.5 million to 2 million rupees with relaxation in interest for the first year and the government would pick up the tab for interest above 8 percent in subsequent years. First Women Bank, Ms Khan argued, charges a high interest rate and requires collateral which accounts for only well to do or well connected women being the Bank’s clients. Ms Khan was, however, quick to point out that in several cases, women are not the final beneficiaries of First Women Bank loans and are fronting for their male relatives.

“I am very proud to say that I was successful in establishing my business both in my country and outside against all odds – opposition by family as well as little capital.” But what Ms Khan is clearly more proud of is her contribution to providing an enabling environment for vulnerable women in Pakistan as the Chairperson Handicrafts Association of Pakistan, Chairperson Women Empowerment and Advocacy Forum, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Senior Vice President, Federation of Pakistani Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Liaison with Government Agencies, and Member on the Board of Directors, Bahawalpur Handicrafts Village, a city famous for its artisans.

Ms Khan’s commitment to exploit business opportunities led her to attempt to trade with India across the Wahgah border two years ago. However, trade restrictions between the two countries forced her to abandon that market, she laments. “But with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif committed to opening trade between the two nuclear rivals I am hopeful that sometime soon I would be able to exploit the large Indian market,” she stated. Her commitment to working towards that goal as well as empower women in South Asia is reflected in her holding the executive membership of the South Asian Association for Regional Countries (including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan) Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs Council.

Remarkably Ms Khan is also a member of the National Assembly and is affiliated with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. During Pakistan People’s Party’s five-year rule (2008-2013) she was declared by the independent Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) as having tabled the largest number of legislations in parliament. The standing committees of the National Assembly for the current parliament would begin meeting from today however in the previous parliament (May 2008-May 2013) Ms Khan was a member of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, Trade and Commerce, and Finance and Convenor Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. She was recently appointed Chairperson of Aik Hunar Aik Nagar (AHAN) that provides support to artisans and is successfully marketing blue and yellow pottery in the domestic market (a unique blend of colours associated with South Punjab from where Shireen Khan hails). Her objective is to encourage artisans to access the international market and she is currently seeking further assistance from USAID (which currently pays rent on one outlet) to support AHAN’s efforts to access the US market.

“Pakistani women need to be empowered both in terms of a legal framework that guarantees a fair hearing in the courts, and I am referring to discriminatory laws for example equating one man’s testimony to two women’s even in cases of rape, as well as a socio-economic framework that does not discriminate against women. I know the constraints women face in all walks of life as a wife, mother and a business woman – a realisation that prompted my entry into politics where I am proud to say that I am contributing a little to the upliftment of women of my country,” Shireen Khan concluded.

Business Recorder

November 25, 2013

Language, gender and power

By: Dr Tariq Rahman

‘What has gender got to do with either language or power?’ You say to yourself and shrug your shoulders. But before you turn to other things, please give Dr Shahid Siddiqui a hearing, or rather, a reading. It is easy. All you have to do is to buy, borrow or steal — and many of our Urdu humorists tell us that the last is the best policy — his book with the above title published a few weeks back by the Oxford University Press. It has been 10 years in the making so you must be fair to it by reading it fully and carefully. He has written it with students in mind, which means that the language is clear and the book is easy to read. And by the time you have read one chapter, you will understand the nexus between the above three variables.

Gender is not the same as sex. The latter is being biologically male or female; the former is what we expect from each. In short, gender is constructed while sex is a given. In Pakistan, for instance, we expect girls to behave modestly, not to whistle at boys, not to have street fights and so on. Children will be socialised in these gender roles and people will consider them natural, inborn, intrinsic and appropriate. But a study of anthropology and history tells us that these gender roles keep changing so they are not natural but taught. But where does language come in, you will ask? It comes in because it is through language that we construct gender. Our words, our sayings, our songs, our jokes, our stories and poetry — all these carry the values which construct gender. We have a vocabulary related to the behaviour of women in society and the salient words in it revolve on concepts related to honour and modesty: ghairat, izzat, haya, sharm, etc. And so emotive are the terms that they make people rise in blind rage and kill their womenfolk if they are even suspected of transgressing gender roles, i.e., a girl just talking to a boy or smiling at him. In a Western country, not to interact with boys would be abnormal behaviour for a girl; here doing the opposite may be a death sentence. We use words to construct, convey and reinforce these expectations, and we give them the status of norm so language constructs our social reality.

And now for the concept of power. This can be defined in various ways but I assume you will call it the capacity to do things; to get yourself obeyed; to resist other people and get your ideas accepted; to control goods and services and so on. I call it the capacity to find gratification or pleasure, whether immediate or postponed (my book Language and politics in Pakistan [1996] explains this), but let us stick to your definition given above. You will immediately understand how the world view of a society empowers some, while disempowering others. If a society believes that the elite, the ashraf, are honourable and deserve deference, then that will seem natural to everybody, including those kammis who are thus dishonoured. This phenomenon, the acceptance of values and attitudes, which favour the dominant group by the subordinate groups themselves, is called hegemony. The term is used by the author to explain how anti-female stereotypes are accepted by women themselves. It was coined by the Italian Marxist thinker Antonio Gramsci, who died in prison for his views. Our constant use of language brainwashes us to establish the hegemony of the ideas of the dominant group.

These then are the ideas which Dr Siddiqui fleshes out with studies of our linguistic discourses (writings, utterances, etc.). His work is pioneering since, while the above ideas have been discussed by Western academics for the last 20 years or so, this is the first time a Pakistani scholar has actually applied them to our society. There are chapters on jokes, songs, matrimonial advertisements, proverbs, fairy tales, drama and fiction in which the familiar is rendered as unfamiliar; the seemingly innocuous turns out to be Machiavellian and we find the ugly face of racism and sexism behind the jokes we laughed at and the songs we enjoyed. The main point is that women are represented as unintelligent, boring (as wives and sisters but not as beloveds), chattering, emotional and cowardly in our public discourses. Our conventional wisdom in proverbs reinforces these negative stereotypes also. Advertisements, songs, poetry and drama also reinforce these stereotypes and also represent women as sex objects to the exclusion of all other aspects of their humanity. The matrimonial advertisements commodify them as if they were on sale for their looks, culinary expertise, housekeeping ability and the art of pleasing the husband and his family. The author tells us that this is true of India and Sri Lanka also, which of course, adds to the strength of his argument.

This is a much-needed book since the only literature on such issues was Western in origin. Indigenous sources, though rich in these stereotypes, had not been explored earlier. Now we have a book which can take the interested reader — and one requires no background knowledge in sociology, sociolinguistics or gender studies to read this book — into the heart of our Pakistani social reality of discrimination against women. In this book, we can see how closely language is tied to this discrimination. Dr Siddiqui goes on to suggest that we can reform our language so that it should not be so anti-women (sexist). After all, there are movements in the world to reform language. For instance, they have replaced chairman with chairperson; Mrs and Miss with Ms; he with s/he or she and he; mankind with humankind or humanity and so on. This kind of movement is required in Pakistan and Dr Siddiqui joins the list of those few Pakistanis, who advocate that we reform our language. I hope the book succeeds since it is needed as an antidote to our rising gender discrimination, as well as a welcome addition to scholarship.

Express Tribune

November 25, 2013

Violence against women worst form of HR violations: Bilawal

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Patron-in-chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Sunday violence against women is the “worst form of human rights violations and its complete elimination remains the core dream of any progressive human society”.

In his message on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women being observed today (Monday), Bilawal reiterated the commitment of his party towards the steps and actions to protect women from violence and crimes.

He said the PPP had always stood for the empowerment of women and election of his mother as the first woman ever elected to head an Islamic nation had proved that an “overwhelming majority of our nation treats their mothers, daughters and sisters as equal partners in progress, peace and prosperity”.

Bilawal pointed out that women in Pakistan have immensely benefited from the Benazir Income Support Programme, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Programme and several other legislative and practical steps initiated under PPP governments.

He said as the son of a “martyr” mother, he will continue the efforts launched by Benazir Bhutto for the political, social and economic empowerment of women to ensure complete elimination of violence against women in Pakistan.

Daily Times