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Pakistani Women In The Twenty- First Century

August 14th, 2011 | 7 Comments

By Usma Iftikhar

According, to a recent survey Indian women are amongst the most stressed women in the world. While it would be unfair to compare, being cognizant of the peculiar paradigms particular to the social setup of the Sub-Continent, it can be safely assumed that Pakistani women rate fairly high relative to their Indian counterparts. Both countries share a similar social structure as is evident by the immense popularity of Indian soaps on this side of the border: The intricacies involved in relationships of our family structure and how despite progress, women on both sides continue to be regarded as second-rate citizens. The culprit is the psychology cultivated over the centuries in our mindsets.

In Pakistan, the last decade has seen a soaring in the number of females entering the workforce. They outperform males in undergraduate and graduate examinations, outnumbering them in fields like Medicine. But such achievements are not without their downside.

While this maybe a healthy sign in a society ridden with prejudices, Pakistani women are being exposed to a society that is increasing polar. With the gradual leaning of its middleclass towards conservatism, many women are finding it difficult to adjust to the demands of an increasingly orthodox society. The trend of Talibanization, especially the fundamentalist mindset perpetuating in our rural areas, forbidding females to partake education, will have long-term impact in curbing female development. In urban areas, many women feel stifled by the new wave of fundamentalism sweeping in our culture. The standard of piety is the dress code, in particular the abbayas and hijabs heavily influenced by the Arabic culture. Any woman not conforming to these newly found parameters is not considered ‘pious’ enough and hence the subject of riveting and ogling by males. In the instances that women do work, they find themselves largely confined to traditional professions like Medicine and Education.

Increasing lawlessness & harassment at work at are also issues, since in a patriarchal society like ours, where the woman is inevitably considered responsible for all the crimes directed against her, women seldom come forth with their predicaments and choose to shove it under the carpet. Our Hudood laws, formed during the Zia era, serve little to help such matters. Although the recently drafted Bill in the National Assembly is a hope, it will take a long time before the affected ones shed their inhibitions and come forwards with their grievances.

Contrary to the West, where the traditional roles of men and women have been revised since the Industrial Age, we tend to stick to our traditional values, where the household chores are considered the woman’s responsibility even if they work fulltime. Therefore they end up looking after the financial aspect as well as the household and children, leaving them overburdened.

The trend of nuclear families deprives women of the traditional support they had from within their families, forcing them to rely on hired help. The rising inflation has been a factor in coercing women to join the workplace since it is impossible to make ends meet by a single bread-earner. The glamour depicted on our television screens has also contributed in making the middle-class dissatisfied, as they now aspire for the luxurious lifestyle portrayed on them. The bid to keep up with the Jonses has also contributed to the stress in our society in general. Many find themselves inadequate in achieving the ‘picture perfect’ look they see onscreen.

Also as compared to our neighbors, opportunities for recreation are few and far between. The only outing an average female belonging to a middleclass family gets is the occasional weekend visit to a recreational facility, cinemas and other recreations being non-existent. The recreation of the female or who has substantial disposable income mostly revolves around clothes & accessories, involving trips to the local market.

Suffice to say that Pakistani women of today are living in an extremely difficult era. Despite all this, Pakistani women are valiantly moving forwards and making their presence felt in every sphere of the society.

Written by admin

Filed under: Opinion, Reviews · Tags: female, Indian, Pakistani, Usma Iftikhar

7 Responses to "Pakistani Women In The Twenty- First Century"

Pakistani Women In The Twenty- First Century | Tea Break says:

August 15, 2011 at 1:13 am

[...] Pakistani Women In The Twenty- First Century [...]
Vijay Goel says:

August 15, 2011 at 7:02 am

I think saying that Indian women are the most stressed out is the understatement of the year.As far as I know Indian middle class women in the Indian metropolitan cities are well educated and have to work outside to supplement family income. They then take on all the responsibilities of making the ends meet, looking after household chores like cooking washing etc calling the general handyman for any malfunction in any of the gadgets or the house she she may have looking after the child (they usually these days have only one or max two children), their studies. Schools believe that since the mother is educated she will see that all the deficiencies in the child will be corrected by her, taking the child or herself for any medical help,looking after the problems of the household help – the list is interminable. Her only recreation is talking to her some friends of school or some collegues say once a month. Shopping is only meant for necessaties where is the luxury of shopping for entertainment !!
Usma says:

August 15, 2011 at 4:43 pm

Touche’. My only point was that if a comparison would be made, Indians would fare better in my opinion taking into account the cultural demands or restrictions which are observed into a far more rigid manner. Also the country’s present situation has been taxing to all including females.
They did not include Pakistan in the survey, but if they did, I’m sure we would figure prominently.
Allahkabanda says:

August 16, 2011 at 3:21 am

This what men (and women) in the advanced countries are craving for!!
Instead of arriving at that stage and then ‘praying’ to get back to square one it is better to be where we are! Just leave our women alone!!

THE PRAYER THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.

We know Your Word says, “Woe to those who call evil good”, but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot anti-abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MR1KSscKKc

The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest.

In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively.

The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India , Africa and Korea .

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, “The Rest of the Story,” and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.

With the Lord’s help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and whole-heartedly become our desire so that we again can be called: “one nation under God.”
Vijay Goel says:

August 16, 2011 at 7:17 am

Usmaji I did not mean to be critical only kind of supplementing what you wrote. I am sure situation in Pakistan must be the sme. I believe men are basically lazy and once women start taking responsibility they are quite happy with the situation and women for their part are quite happy to be the decision makers no matter the increase in work load.I am reminded of the story where two couples met. One couple were perenially fighting while the other seemed never to fight. So the fighting couple asked the other couple for their reason for such a peaceful existance. The husband of the peaceful couple said that the reason for their congenial existance was very simple. On their first night they had decided that all life’s Major decisions will be taken by the husband and all minor ones by the wife. When asked what were the Major decisions and what were the minor ones. He again said it was simple! The minor ones were where the kids will go to school, where to spend holidays, what to have for dinner, whom to visit whom to invite and so on. When asked what were the Major ones he replied simple again such as to how India and Pakistan can be friendly, is terrorism a bigger threat or corruption. Such Earth shaking decisions were taken by him !!
Usma says:

August 17, 2011 at 12:09 am

I’m sure you were. Was just voicing my views (or woes:-).
My only point was that Pakistani fare worse.
uzma atif says:

August 18, 2011 at 10:48 pm

dearest usma
aoa
a nice portrayal of women hs been shown by u,,,,,, i liked the way u expressed ur views the patriarchal society has demonised the overall role of woman.
the man does not realises that at the end ever1 is equal in the eyes of Allah ALmighty its nt the sexex but the virtues which mke one greter in the eyes o ALLAH

lets just have a positive outlook on our role regardless o fthe fact we r nt acknowledged by the stingy minded n low opionionated crowd.
keep the faith u did a good job
tc regds uzma atif