Fida Hussain
MERA jism meri marzi, apparently is just a slogan for women’s march, but for the last few days has shaken the social fabric and taken over most of the media from electronic, to print and social in its clutches. By looking at the news and events of last few days all the saner minds of the civil society, instead of indulging in rattling and further polarizing the society and breeding further more intolerance need to have a deep breath and divert the discussion to somewhat constructive, meaningful and intellectual debate.
The issue of Aurat March has divided the society in two camps, and both not ready to listen and clear the clouds of each other perspectives. The women camp instead of cerebrating over the slogan is adamant to plead for it by putting forward its own interpretation and same is the case with the other camp. But, just for a second, if one pause and think that in so intolerant a society as of Pakistan, is it pertinent for the women rights activists to coin their slogans with such words, which, due to its myriad of connotation is doing disservice instead of service for their cause by further alienating and invoking the camp against whom they have their main grievances?
There is no denying the fact that, child marriages, enforced marriages without the consent of women and honor killings are some of the of social blots in our society. Similarly women have little or no say in deciding the time and number of conceptions even though in presence of valid reasons. But,was it necessary to use Jism – keeping in mind the Pakistani mindset which has so many connotations, to symbolize women rights? What if they have coined the slogan as “Meri Zindagi Meray Faislay” (my life my decisions.) Wouldn’t in such scenario the patriarchal society smells rat?
One has the right or authority over something when one really owns it. Have we ever been asked both men and women- when to born, where to born, with what religion, to whom, in what body colour to which tribe and in which country? The answer is a plain big No. Keeping religion aside, nobody can deny this fact and same is the case with death. Why in majority of laws and social structures suicide is illegal, because it is the affirmation of the fact that you cannot perish your life.
Let suppose if one argues that No, in life and death we surrender to some unknown power which is let suppose Almighty but we must have the authority over our bodies in our lives. So let it be so, then the question arises that can ever anybody dare in majority of cases to touch a women without her consent? It is a big NO. So it means the slogan doesn’t addresses men in general. Then to whom does the slogan addresses, in my mind only three persons: husband, father and brother. So, keeping in mind the Pakistani society and our social norms, can woman say this sentence to any of the above three persons? The answer is a big NO and even majority of women will also agree with this. Then what is the use of using such slogans for a genuine cause which is further aggravating the situation then remedying it.
Last but not the least there is need of an open and intellectual debate to explore the issue of women rights. One point needs to be understood, the issue is not of equality but uniformity. Is it equality that women do childrearing, go through labour and hormonal imbalances which are so huge, difficult and important a task to think of, and along with that they also care for running the house financially? In my view it is not. If they do it willingly out of love and support then well and good but forcing them to do so is not necessary. Don’t we find women riding on horses in Prophet’s times? Don’t we see them helping the fighters in the battlefield? Don’t we find women scholars and intellectuals in Islamic history? Of course we do.
No saner mind can deny the rights of women and support prevalent barbaric and immoral practices in our society. But the way to pursue it and fight for it needs to be carefully charted out in such a way that instead of achieving the cause we may not further invoke and embolden the aggressors. For that we need a mature, tolerant and intellectual debate and well thought out strategy as just rattling for or against some slogans in the month of March wouldn’t do any service for the cause of women rights but would further polarize and make the society intolerant.
—The writer is freelancer columnist based in Islamabad.
