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Aurat March is [[International Women's Day]] women's [[procession]] walk organized in various cities of [[Pakistan]] including Lahore, [[Hyderabad, Sindh|Hyderabad]], Karachi and Islamabad. On March 8 2018, Pakistan saw its first Aurat March in major cities across Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1181993|title=The Aurat March challenges misogyny in our homes, workplaces and society, say organisers ahead of Women's Day|last=Staff|first=Images|date=2019-03-07|website=Images|language=en|access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref> |
Aurat March is [[International Women's Day]] women's [[procession]] walk organized in various cities of [[Pakistan]] including Lahore, [[Hyderabad, Sindh|Hyderabad]], Karachi and Islamabad. On March 8 2018, Pakistan saw its first Aurat March in major cities across Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1181993|title=The Aurat March challenges misogyny in our homes, workplaces and society, say organisers ahead of Women's Day|last=Staff|first=Images|date=2019-03-07|website=Images|language=en|access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref> |
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March is held under the banner of ‘Hum Aurtain’.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aurat March demands equality, end to violence on International Women’s Day |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/441395 |work=The News International |date=March 9, 2019}}</ref> The march is aimed at expressing solidarity with women from across Pakistan and push for accountability and restorative justice against violence, standing with women who experience violence and harassment at the workplace, at home, in public spaces and at the hands of security forces.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1468109|title=Aurat March to highlight ‘Sisterhood and Solidarity’|last=Reporter|first=The Newspaper's Staff|date=2019-03-07|website=DAWN.COM|language=en|access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref> |
March is held under the banner of ‘Hum Aurtain’.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aurat March demands equality, end to violence on International Women’s Day |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/441395 |work=The News International |date=March 9, 2019}}</ref> The march is aimed at expressing solidarity with women from across Pakistan and push for accountability and restorative justice against violence, standing with women who experience violence and harassment at the workplace, at home, in public spaces and at the hands of security forces.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1468109|title=Aurat March to highlight ‘Sisterhood and Solidarity’|last=Reporter|first=The Newspaper's Staff|date=2019-03-07|website=DAWN.COM|language=en|access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref> |
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Ms. Mehek Saeed reports that The crowd in each city grew as everyone kept marching on from the starting point till the crowds dispersed. Women (and men) held placards and banners and shouted many slogans like ‘Ghar ka Kaam, Sab ka Kaam’ and ‘Women are humans, not honour’. Women wore t-shirts that read ‘my favorite season is the fall (of patriarchy)’ and ‘girls just want fun-damental human rights’. Some wore masks of deceased social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch and one group held a charpoy that said ‘patriarchy’s janaza’ (funeral of patriarchy) on their shoulders. A number of prominent personalities put out social media messages in solidarity with those who were marching. There was a video montage circulated of celebrities and activists saying ‘equal’ and ‘barabar’ - many of whom also participated in the walk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/290411-aurat-march-2018-freedom-over-fear|title=Aurat March 2018: Freedom over fear|last=Saeed|first=Mehek|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref> |
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Nimra Afzal says in her article, that Aurat March is a women empowerment movement that has much more than just peace rallies, raising awareness placards or sloganeering for women equality in a patriarchal society. The movement is just not a man-hating or elitist but a movement, movement asks for public spaces with hashtags like '''#JaggaDain (Give space)'''. Movement includes listening with hashtags like '''WhyIMarch’''' and personal counselling too. Movement demands unserved justice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://natcour.com/story/238374/heres-all-you-need-to-know-about-aurat-march-2019/|title=Here's all you need to know about Aurat March 2019|date=2019-02-28|website=NC|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-09}}</ref> |
Nimra Afzal says in her article, that Aurat March is a women empowerment movement that has much more than just peace rallies, raising awareness placards or sloganeering for women equality in a patriarchal society. The movement is just not a man-hating or elitist but a movement, movement asks for public spaces with hashtags like '''#JaggaDain (Give space)'''. Movement includes listening with hashtags like '''WhyIMarch’''' and personal counselling too. Movement demands unserved justice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://natcour.com/story/238374/heres-all-you-need-to-know-about-aurat-march-2019/|title=Here's all you need to know about Aurat March 2019|date=2019-02-28|website=NC|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-09}}</ref> |
Revision as of 12:07, 17 March 2019
Aurat March is International Women's Day women's procession walk organized in various cities of Pakistan including Lahore, Hyderabad, Karachi and Islamabad. On March 8 2018, Pakistan saw its first Aurat March in major cities across Pakistan.[1]
March is held under the banner of ‘Hum Aurtain’.[2] The march is aimed at expressing solidarity with women from across Pakistan and push for accountability and restorative justice against violence, standing with women who experience violence and harassment at the workplace, at home, in public spaces and at the hands of security forces.[3]
Ms. Mehek Saeed reports that The crowd in each city grew as everyone kept marching on from the starting point till the crowds dispersed. Women (and men) held placards and banners and shouted many slogans like ‘Ghar ka Kaam, Sab ka Kaam’ and ‘Women are humans, not honour’. Women wore t-shirts that read ‘my favorite season is the fall (of patriarchy)’ and ‘girls just want fun-damental human rights’. Some wore masks of deceased social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch and one group held a charpoy that said ‘patriarchy’s janaza’ (funeral of patriarchy) on their shoulders. A number of prominent personalities put out social media messages in solidarity with those who were marching. There was a video montage circulated of celebrities and activists saying ‘equal’ and ‘barabar’ - many of whom also participated in the walk.[4]
Nimra Afzal says in her article, that Aurat March is a women empowerment movement that has much more than just peace rallies, raising awareness placards or sloganeering for women equality in a patriarchal society. The movement is just not a man-hating or elitist but a movement, movement asks for public spaces with hashtags like #JaggaDain (Give space). Movement includes listening with hashtags like WhyIMarch’ and personal counselling too. Movement demands unserved justice.[5]
Movement takes note of valuable contributions of erstwhile feminists.
Themes
According to Zuneera Shah, while etymology of word 'Aurat' (Woman) indicates being misogynistic, Since Western hegemony over feminist movements feeds into a repulsion towards feminism in countries such as Pakistan. Localization of the fight for women’s rights has strong bearings on how South Asian activists and feminists relate the feminist movement.[6] Shah says With the Aurat March, terms such as 'pidar shahi' (patriarchy) and 'aurat march' are being circulated and created.[6]
Theme for 2018 march was Equality’ where as theme for 2019 march is Sisterhood and Solidarity[3]
Nighat Dad explains in her article that "The agenda of this march was to demand resources and dignity for women, for transgender community, for religious minorities and for those on the economic margins but more importantly to recognize that women’s liberation is inherently linked with the liberation of all oppressed groups and minorities."[7]
Manifesto
Manifesto demands economic justice, including implementation of labour rights, the Sexual Harassment Against Women in the Workplace Act 2010, recognition of women’s input to the ‘care economy’ as unpaid labour, and provision of maternity leaves and day care centres to ensure women’s inclusion in the labour force.
Among other things, it also demands access to safe drinking water and air, protection of animals and wildlife, recognition of women’s participation in production of food and cash crops, access to a fair justice system, inclusion of women with disabilities as well as the transgender community, reproductive justice, access to public spaces inclusion in educational institutions, rights of religious minorities, promotion of an anti-war agenda, end to police brutality and enforced disappearances.[3]
Posters slogans & Media debate
The hundreds of posters featured at women’s day marches across Pakistan highlighting fundamental rights issues such as access to education and employment.[8] Some of March 2018 posters included slogans like "Our rights are not for grab neither are we", "Girls just wanna have Fundamental human rights", 'Transwomen are women shut up', "Tu kare tou Stud, Mai Karun tou Slut (If you do it then Stud but If I do it then Slut)", "Safe street program for women", "Stop being Menstrual phobic", "Consent ki Tasbeeh Rozana Parhen (Ask for consent every time)", "Paratha Rolls Not Gender Roles".[9]
In March 2019 some posters also appeared saying "Man of quality will never be afraid of equality"[10], "Jab tak aurat tang rahay gi, jang rahay gi, jang rahay gi ",“Keep your dick pics to yourself.” Another had a drawing of a vagina and two ovaries and the words: “Grow a pair!” Another poster said, “If you like the headscarf so much, tie it around your eyes.”[8] one depicting a girl sitting with her legs spread out, Lo Beth Gayi Sahi Se or the irreverent Akeli Awara Azaad[11] "Najar teri gandi aur purdah mein keroun" (Why do I adopt veil cause of your bad habit of )ogling [12] "“Aaj waqai maa behn ek ho rahi hai” depicts all women coming together without differences.[13] One poster "says that maybe we haven’t seen any woman as independent as a ‘tawaaif’, so this is the reason we (some of our society) consider every independent woman a ‘tawaaif’."[13] "My shirt is not short, it’s your mindset that is narrow"[14] Posters like "these are my streets too" claimed for public spaces.[15]
Ailia Zehra deconstructs a poster in her article that says "If Cynthia does it, she’s applauded. If I do it, I’m the villain". For the uninitiated, Cynthia Ritchie is an American social media influencer planted by Pakistan establishment's white wash for state propaganda. The said woman rode a bicycle somewhere in Pakistan and tweeted her picture in a bid to bring down local feminists by implying that they lie when they say women cannot freely access public spaces. This placard beautifully summarizes what is wrong with an American woman lecturing Pakistani women on freedom and mobility. Yes, Pakistani men are fine with women riding bicycles on the roads – as long as the women are white.[16]
Nighat Dad who organised the women’s march in Lahore, said people were angry over the posters because most Pakistanis, especially men were not yet ready to allow them free choice.[8]
Thousands complained the marchers were “vulgar” opportunists who had infringed on conservative values in the Muslim-majority country and supplanted a legitimate fight for rights with a liberal, anti-Islamic agenda.[8] Feminist writer Sadia Khatri exposes this built up of narrative in her article, "Should feminists claim Aurat March's Vulgar Posters ? yes absolutely [11]
Khatri says people have been posting photographs showing the posters that didn’t get as much air-time, posters addressing the range of ‘important’ causes that news anchors have accused the March of ignoring, like education, inheritance and marital rights. By bringing up the manifesto to defend the posters, for instance, Pakistan Feminists distance themselves from the supposedly provocative posters, and in fact confirm their ‘vulgarity’. It insinuates that Pakistani feminists agree that feminism should operate within the bounds of ‘respectability’. She says this is a precarious moment in time. Pakistani feminists must step back and consider what narratives feminists are collectively cementing. According to her The boundaries of respectability cannot be one of them. Feminism with conditions is no feminism. It maintains the division between what is ‘acceptable’ and what is ‘immodest’, what is ‘public’ and ‘private’, allowed and not. It pits the two against each other, rewarding the feminists who rally for legal rights and work-life balance, and slut shaming those who reclaim gendered slurs and carry the posters they did at the March.[11]
She questions whether feminism to allow discriminate and gate keep, and this gatekeeping is patriarchy’s way of reinforcing the binary of purpose vs pleasure, where the feminism of purpose (health, education, marital rights) is ‘good’ feminism, and the feminism of pleasure (sexual politics, bodily autonomy, agency over time and leisure) is ‘bad’ feminism, ‘immoral’ and ‘frivolous’.[11]
She explains as feminists use the language of real and serious, end up creating a distinction between ‘actual’ issues and 'pretended' ones and rush to clarify that feminists have included ‘important’ causes in our demands, end up suggesting that other causes are unimportant.[11]
In an article "Womansplaining the Aurat March: Dear men, here’s why Pakistan’s women are asserting their rights" writer Rimmel Mohydin handles misogynist objections to the Women's march slogans in different way. Rimmel Mohydin suggests those men to "smile, you’ll look prettier that way." Ms.Mohydin humorously questions Women can be the subject of many sexist jokes, but if the women cracks a joke on what ground that wit is considered offensive ? [17] She says Every wise crack, every sassy one-liner, every catchy slogan masked years and years of invisible pain that women have suffered.[17]
Woman can tell men through their placards that she won’t warm his bed if he doesn’t warm his food, but what really gets misogynist mind hot and bothered is that she, a woman, could laugh at his expense.[17]
On an effort of misogynist parliamentarian's effort or agenda finding conspiracy theory behind women's march Ms.Mohydin sarcastically quips, "It is difficult to know where to place your feet when you find that the backs that you have been walking on are now standing up. That's why author's sympathies are with misogynist politicians"
Referring poster slogan “Keep your dick pics to yourself.” Ms. Mohydin says What seems to have outraged the male collective the most is the shattering of a fantasy world where women enjoy being subjected to unsolicited pictures of male genitals. Poster slogan has hit them hard. It has confused them. And now, they are angry and trying to speak to us in a language that they think we’ll understand. They tell us this is not feminism but fail to explain how. They tell us it’s about sex, and as ‘respectful’ women, how dare we speak of it. [17] “When women make demands about their personal lives, their bodies, their sexuality, that’s when people feel threatened,” Dad said. “So it’s OK to ask the government for the right to education but you can’t say you are happily divorced because the breakdown of a marriage is a shameful thing, a woman’s failure, and you can’t say ‘don’t send me dick pics’ because so-called respectable women don’t use words like dick.” [8] Nobody seems to say anything to the sender, but the unwilling recipient is apparently the problem. Either she likes it (which, to them, makes her a ‘slut’) or she doesn’t (which offends them). So as usual, women cannot win Ms. Mohydin says.[17] Remaining on same issue Ms.Mohydin strongly questions "Are they upset at the loss of this opportunity to titillate women with their phallus? Why are they all shrivelling up? Have protesting women given them performance anxiety ? or what ?".[17]
Continuing her strong denunciation Ms. Mohydin says, "The placards were a mirror and instead of taking this moment as an opportunity to reflect, they have decided to beat their chest instead. Not their butchered bodies, not their acid-burnt faces, not their immobility, not their lack of representation, not the dearth of affordable housing, not the moral policing their choices and bodies are subjected to, not the denial of female education, not the constant threat of sexual harassment and assault, not the social structures that cut women’s potential in half, not the exploitation, not the objectification, not the fact that for many, women are still not human. It seems to me that for them, the problem is women themselves, Ms. Mohydin rues".[17]
Shaan Shahid, arguably Pakistan’s well known film star, wrote on Twitter he thought the posters did not “represent our culture, our values”. He was criticized back for his films blatantly sexualize them and reduce their existence to a mere prop to exert the ‘masculinity’ of his character that he defends with Freedom of Expression argument but when real women call out this misogynistic culture with his hypocrisy he looks down freedom of expression of women.[18]
Veena Malik, a popular actor who caused an uproar in 2012 when she appeared with lesser clothes on the cover of an Indian men’s magazine, posted that the march had “brought humiliation to women of Pakistan”. [8] However, Twitter users were quick to remind Veena that "the same women you are calling out for 'humiliating' Pakistani women were standing by you as mullahs imposed fatwas on you." [18]Kishwar Naheed, a poet best remembered for a poem called “Us sinful women”, was seen in a video saying: “The next time you make such slogans, remember your culture, your traditions.” Sadia Khatri a feminist writer, replies back through her column in Dawn saying someone should remind Kishwar Naheed, that it is precisely culture and tradition; that celebrates the frivolous and the silly consigning women to private spaces where women court the greatest dangers, where the threat of assault is most prevalent, and where, when women are harmed, the walls around women remind women to stay silent, like ‘good’, ‘honourable’ women those culture and tradition are what upturned when thousands of women come out into the streets, dancing and laughing with joy.[11]
According to Guardian journalist Mehreen Zahra-Malik, Some of the profanity-filled tirades were more frightening. A film student, posted screenshots of a group of boys sexually harassing her 16-year-old younger sister online and threatening her with rape for posting on Instagram in support of the march.[8]
Pakistan being a conservative society activists sporting simple posters like "You can’t say you are happily divorced' also received messages filled with sexual innuendo and threats of sexual violence. Women participating in Aurat March had received threats of physical and sexual violence from social media users after posting pictures of the posters. In Pakistan the threats of violence are not hollow. About 500 women are killed each year by family members who believe their honour has been damaged, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.[8]
One popular poster called for men to warm their own food; another asked them to find their own socks. And one read, “I’ll warm your food but you warm your own bed.” . As per Nida Kirmani, a feminist sociologist at the Lahore University of Management Sciences such posters got the most vitriolic responses because those challenged the intimate relations of power within the household. As per Sabahat Zakariya, a newspaper editor these kinds of slogans have unleashed a wave of masculine anxiety. Posters have since unleashed a social media storm.[8]
As per Nighat Dad that taboo topics like women’s rights to their own bodies, their sexuality, are being discussed for the first time was a huge success of the march.[8]
Social media hashtag
One of the hashtag at 2018 rally was #KhaanaKhudGaramKarLo (heat your own meal).Where as in 2019 it transformed to 'Ghar ka Kam Saba ka Kam' (Home-work is every-one's responsibility) slogan'
2019 March '#WhyIMarch' became the social media hashtag and slogan for the event, with many celebrities, human rights activists, and locals sharing their stories of why they marched.[19]
Endorsing organizations
The march is organised by a women's collective called "Hum Auratein" (We the Women), who conduct community outreach programmes for women.[20]Lady Health Workers Association (LHWA) with a membership of about 90,000 women from across the country was one of the first to have endorsed the initiative.[20] The march itself was not linked to a particular organization, political party or group. In fact, it included representatives from the Awami Workers Party, the Feminist Collective, the Women’s Collective and Girls at Dhabas among others.[21]
See also
- Women in Pakistan
- Feminism in Pakistan
- Women's Action Forum
- All Pakistan Women's Association
- Blue Veins
- Pakistan Federation of Business And Professional Women
- Aurat Foundation
- Women's rights
- Women in Islam
External links
References
- ^ Staff, Images (2019-03-07). "The Aurat March challenges misogyny in our homes, workplaces and society, say organisers ahead of Women's Day". Images. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- ^ "Aurat March demands equality, end to violence on International Women's Day". The News International. March 9, 2019.
- ^ a b c Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2019-03-07). "Aurat March to highlight 'Sisterhood and Solidarity'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
- ^ Saeed, Mehek. "Aurat March 2018: Freedom over fear". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ "Here's all you need to know about Aurat March 2019". NC. 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
- ^ a b Shah, Zuneera (2018-03-12). "Why the Aurat March is a revolutionary feat for Pakistan". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ "Statement from Aurat March Lahore, 2018". Samaa TV. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Zahra-Malik, Mehreen (2019-03-15). "Pakistan torn as women's day march sparks wave of 'masculine anxiety'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ^ Staff, Images (2018-03-09). "These posters from the Aurat March say everything you wish you could". Images. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ Mohydin, Rimmel. "Womansplaining the Aurat March: Dear men, here's why Pakistan's women are asserting their rights". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ a b c d e f Khatri, Sadia (2019-03-15). "Should feminists claim Aurat March's 'vulgar' posters? Yes, absolutely". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ^ "Photo Gallery Women's Day 2019 (Aurat March)". The Namal. 2019-03-08. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ a b "Some Of The Most Powerful Messages From Aurat March|Pink.Parhlo.com". Parhlo Pink. 2019-03-09. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ "How Aurat March Challenged The Deeply Ingrained Toxic Masculinity". Naya Daur. 2019-03-09. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ "4 Most Important Things Addressed at Aurat March". HTV. 2019-03-14. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ "How Aurat March Challenged The Deeply Ingrained Toxic Masculinity". Naya Daur. 2019-03-09. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g Mohydin, Rimmel (2019-03-12). "Let me womansplain the Aurat March to you". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ a b "Shaan Shahid slammed for criticising Aurat March posters". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ^ "Aurat March 2019: Her blues are everyone's jazz". The Express Tribune. 2019-03-09. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
- ^ a b "Pakistani women hold 'aurat march' for equality, gender justice". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
- ^ Saeed, Mehek. "Aurat March 2018: Freedom over fear". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2019-03-17.