By: Heraclitus Herac
Every year, as March 8 approaches and the world celebrates International Women’s Day, a certain segment of our society suddenly experiences an acute attack of moral panic. From nowhere, Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar emerges with his usual profanities, Orya Maqbool Jan seizes the mic to lament the decay of civilization, Qaiser Raja and Sahil Adeem flood social media with their melodramatic tears over the demise of masculinity, while Zaid Hamid and Ansar Abbasi concoct conspiracy theories so elaborate that even the CIA and Mossad would be surprised to learn they orchestrated a sinister attack on Pakistan via Aurat March. Meanwhile, Mazhar Barlas, Ahmed Quraishi, Sabir Shakir, and the rest of this self-appointed moral brigade suddenly take over TV channels and social media, religiously fulfilling their annual duty of dismissing Aurat March as nothing more than an elitist pastime for DHA and Bahria Town women.
These are the same people who, year after year, dust off their outdated moral sermon shop and try to sell the same worn-out narratives: “Our women already have all their rights!” “This is all a Western trap!” “NGOs are behind this!” But the most popular refrain remains: “Our middle-class women are very happy!” Well, SubhanAllah! If Pakistani women are indeed so happy, why do thousands of cases of rape, domestic violence, honor killings, and harassment get reported every year? Or perhaps the real issue is that these women simply haven’t been notified of their happiness yet—maybe someone should break the news to them.
The sole purpose of Aurat March is to demand for women what any civilized society provides as a given: fundamental human rights. Yet, in Pakistan, this demand is distorted into a Western conspiracy. Every year, the debate gets stuck on the same tired arguments—”These slogans are inappropriate!” “These women are ill-mannered!” “They should stay at home!” But if women are truly as free as these gentlemen claim, then let them decide for themselves whether they want to stay home or step outside. But no, that too must be decided by men, rights will also be bestowed by men, and even the extent of their freedom will be determined by male approval. The irony is that after imposing all these restrictions, these very men accuse feminists of wanting to oppress men.
But nothing rattles them quite like the slogan “Mera Jism, Meri Marzi” (My Body, My Choice). Its meaning is straightforward—every woman has the right to autonomy over her own body and life choices. Yet, our innocent and oppressed men immediately interpret it as a license for immorality. In reality, this slogan speaks for the young girl forced into child marriage, for the working woman who faces daily harassment in offices, for the wife who is pressured into pregnancy against her will, and for the girl who is murdered simply because she dared to choose her own partner.
Feminism is neither a new concept nor an imported ideology—it is the result of centuries of struggle for equality. In every society that has progressed, women have fought for their rights through feminist movements. In Europe, women first fought for the right to vote, then for workplace equality, then for laws against domestic violence. But here, if a woman so much as demands her basic rights, the same self-proclaimed guardians of morality suddenly awaken from their slumber, crying that this is all shamelessness and indecency. If they are truly so concerned about honoring women, they should start by recognizing women as human beings rather than just symbols of honor. But no—because if women are acknowledged as individuals, they might start making decisions for themselves, and that is the most terrifying thought for the men of this society.
So, my dear innocent intellectuals, try acting like decent human beings for once. Give women their rights. No—actually, don’t bother. They will take them. Not with your permission, but with their own will.
Note: The “Qalam Club” does not necessarily agree with the personal views of the authors
