“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them”
Woman empowerment means to strengthen woman so that they can get rid of social violence and atrocities against them and have freedom to make choices of life. It’s basically a process to create power in woman to live a happy and respectable life in the society. They are capable of deciding for themselves.
Similarly feminism is the belief in the equality of genders. It’s the active practice to breakout gender stereotypes and practices our full humanity and potential so that we can make this world a better and easier place to live.
To think that feminism is the only movement for woman, by woman and made up of woman in opposition to men is misleading and actually ignoring the underlying problem that is gender inequality an issue that affects every single person regardless of gender.
We need to change our perception of feminism to address gender based issues because everyone in our society is prey of it may be due to social roles, behaviors and expectations from them that they can’t do that things that they actually want to do.
The reasons why these feminist movements are considered all about woman and their rights is because of long span of oppression and abuses on them. They have suffered a lot through the years at the hands of men. They were ill-treated as almost non-existent. Women were considered having only reproductive role and position as a worker doing household chores. Even in the Greek mythology: “A woman was considered to be the source of all evils”. At time of ignorance baby girls were lively buried. They were looked upon as commodities and given very little value at all.
Firstly Islam empower woman by declaring her rights as mother, wife, daughter and sister. Through Quranic revelation honored them and they were given a new leash of life. They were given rights, fairness, justice, and were held in high stream.
“Fear Allah through whom you demand your mutual (rights) and (revere) the wombs (that bore you) for Allah ever watches over you” (Surah Nisa: 4:1)
Islam emancipated woman in all respects of life. They were allowed to do business and can own the property, so that they become independent. Economically empowered by mehars at the time of Nikkah and having a part in inheritance. Where in Islam woman are asked to wear veil, men are ordered not to stare on them and lower their sights.
“You are the modest queen,
That knows her worth by
Keeping her modest heart
Secure with shyness”
At the time of climax of Islam we can seek many examples of women empowerment like Arwa bint Ahmad (R.A) served as governor of Yemen under Fatimid Khalifahs. Khawlah bint al-Azwar was a great warrior and also acts as a commander of Rashidun Army.
But still there is ignorance and women are not given rights. Like there is domestic violence, honor killing, acid attack, dowry system, rape etc. are major areas of concern. That’s all due to gender discrimination and patriarchal system this is also due to disrespectful mindset of men toward woman the reason to all this lies in the base both girls and boys are grown up with an imbalance in range of abilities.
Male members are brought up with the belief that they have to maintain their supremacy over woman. To achieve this goal they practice every fair and unfair tool. Boys are always portrayed to be superior, upper hand and strong. And on the other hand girls are even not make such confident that they can speak for themselves. Where girls are taught to be modest; boys should taught to lower their sights. Where woman are taught to make relationships there men should also be trained for empathy.
We can clearly see that gender discrimination at education, economic, social, and political level. Despite of so much development and revolution in many areas of world still woman are not allowed to get higher education though we know “if you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.” They are restricted, not given opportunity to get education and force to marriage at early age. So that they may not get apprehension of their rights.
Women are paid less for the same work than men. In a survey it was seen in America that female were paid 75% less at the work then males. That’s unjust and unfair.
Discrimination also come from the thought that men are consider as the continuation of ancestral line. Though the role of woman cannot denied if a man do job earn the living and a woman is house wife, do household chores, educate children; she has to listen what you do all the day. That mentality needs to change. Diligence is required for both kinds of work and both have their own importance so both should be respected.
Quaid-e-Azam once said: “No nation can rise to height of glory unless your women are side by side with you”
So women empowerment is the need of time. They should be given equal opportunities in every field irrespective of gender and also be given equal pay. Government should make such policies that strengthen women. Political representation should be granted to women so that they can sort out the problems related to women. Child marriage should be abolished. Moreover there is need to educate that the divorce is shameful and abuse for both male and female. Further where demand of dowry is not liked and allowed at time of nikkah similarly our religion also not liked to enforce the man to give half of his property to woman at time of divorce. Both deeds are inhuman. And is a hurdle in the achievement of gender equality.
So we come to know that Feminism is not male-hating but the belief in social, economic, and political equality of genders. This movement is not against the men but against the rape, harassment, domestic violence and acid attacks. And it questions purity is only linked to women, not to man?
Despite due to rational and radical thoughts of feminists and some slogans, women also oppose this but overall the movement and its purposes are not wrong. But it is miss-conceptualized due to few people.
If we talk about Pakistan there also came a lot of change. People minds are enlighten and we can see women taking part in every field and playing role in the country’s development. Such as Miss Fatima Jinnah instrumental figure in Pakistan Movement, Benazir Bhutto not only first woman Prime minister of Pakistan but of the whole Muslim world, Maryam Mukhtar first lady pilot and Minahil Sohail was first to compete at Olympics as shooter. They opened new avenues for other Pakistani women. Pakistan history is full of such brave ladies.
But still there is need to change the mentality, break out of patriarchy system and people need to understand that they should not oppose but need to practice collective creativity and capacity.
So there is the hope that with education and progressive thoughts of people soon women will empower, gender inequality will stop and hopefully people can live with fairness no matter what gender they are.
“Serve, Respect, Love & Help
For everyone, from everyone
Male or female, young or old”