Say no to Aurat March---yes to rape and murder...

Last one week was terribly disturbing and horrifying because of the news and reviews I read about the rape and murder of a young female in her own home by her own brother and father in Toba Tek Singh Pakistan. For many days I could not collect the courage and calm to put my thoughts on paper due to deep emotional reaction to all this. Being a female from Punjab Pakistan, I felt miserable, threatened, and worried about the fact that many more women and girls are still living such a vulnerable life in our cities, towns and villages, while many of the people are yet in a state of denial of any kind of threat for women.

My homeland has had the the history of kingdoms, colonialism, theocracy, and dictatorships which is deeply entwined with the existing patriarchy, I believe so because these systems often reinforced and perpetuated gender inequalities and male dominance. However, these historical dynamics have also been contested by movements seeking to challenge societal norms and create more just and equal society yet patriarchy seems more of a taboo word in Pakistan. Although people like myself now speak and write about it more openly than before.

For those who still asm what is patriarchy...it is a social system where men hold primary power and dominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. In my view the kingdoms, colonial regimes, and dictatorships often reinforced and perpetuated patriarchal power structures, with men typically holding the highest positions of authority and decision-making from local level to the highest positions of state.

It is to be unpacked more how the forms of governance often relied on and perpetuated traditional gender roles, where men were expected to be leaders, warriors, and providers, while women were relegated to subordinate roles such as caretakers, homemakers, and sometimes as objects of conquest or exploitation. Patriarchal ideologies often justified male dominance and control over society, which was mirrored in the governance structures of kingdoms, colonial administrations, and dictatorships. Laws, policies, and cultural norms upheld male authority and reinforced the subordination of women.

It is then to be understood how colonial powers imposed patriarchal structures and norms, disrupting any existing social orders and often exacerbating gender inequalities. This involved imposing Western notions of gender roles, undermining traditional systems where women may have held some prominent roles, and reinforcing male-dominated power structures.

Now thinking of more recent times in Pakistan where dictatorships and a kind of theocracy has prevailed for long. Dictatorships on the one hand and authoritarian regimes using religion for political purposes have perpetuated and intensified patriarchal norms and practices as a means of consolidating power. This could involve restricting women's rights, suppressing feminist movements, and using patriarchal ideologies to justify oppressive policies.

Once it is clear how patriarchal societies typically grant men more power and authority than women, both in public and private spheres; only then we can identify this power imbalance creating situations where men in the role of father, brother, or husband- feel entitled to exert control over women, including through sexual violence and murder. The prevailing ideologies in societies like ours often view women as objects or possessions of men, rather than as autonomous individuals with rights and agency. This objectification and dehumanization can lead to a lack of empathy towards women and normalize violence against them, including rape and murder.

We cannot deny that our society imposes rigid gender norms and expectations on both men and women, reinforcing stereotypes about masculinity and femininity. These norms may include the belief that men should be dominant, aggressive, and sexually assertive, while women should be submissive, passive, and sexually available. When these norms are violated, it can lead to violence against women as a means of enforcing conformity. From a very young age, our girls are often socialized to prioritize the needs and desires of others, particularly men, while boys are encouraged to assert their dominance and control. This socialization can create dynamics where women are more likely to tolerate or excuse abusive behavior, while men may feel entitled to exert power and control over women.

It's important to recognize that the impact of patriarchy on vulnerability to rape and murder is often compounded by other forms of oppression, such as racism, classism, ableism, and discrimination. Women who belong to marginalized groups may face additional barriers to safety and justice, making them even more vulnerable to violence. We all now know how our system often fails to hold perpetrators of violence against women accountable for their actions. This is because of societal attitudes that minimize or justify such violence, as well as systemic failures within legal and law enforcement institutions to adequately investigate and prosecute cases of rape and murder. Because patriarchy perpetuates a culture where women's bodies and lives are devalued, leading to increased vulnerability to rape and murder.

IT IS A SITUATION OF NOW OR NEVER...We need to change the mindset and behaviors both, please allow us to educate our next generations for co-existence. Let us build a more peaceful, just, and livable social structure for all genders.