BACKGROUND
In Pakistan, gender inequality is a huge issue that many are forced to face every day. Males are automatically superior to females in every possible situation. In 2006, a bill known as the Women’s Protection Bill was passed to improve the standings of women in society, but has still not yet been implemented. Since the inequality is woven so strictly into even the government situation, the hope of a bright future for women remains slim. This is similar to the way that police officers will “turn a blind eye” when witnessing an act of inequality on the streets. In order for a law or policy to be enforced the government and authority has to back them up, and in this case they are most definitely not backed up.
Women in higher classes often have more rights and freedoms than those of lower rankings. Because their families have a sufficient amount of money, the girls have more potential exposure to education and with education comes a bright future. Fatimah Jinnah, a female Pakistani politician uses her more influential position to speak out for women and fight for their freedoms and rights. Unlike Jinnah, most women have no other option but to accept their positions of subordination since there seems to be no future hope for them.
Tradition plays a large role in this subordination. Women need to ask for permission from men before making any major decision. Jehan Ara, CEO of an IT Company, needed to ask for permission from her father before being able to travel to Indonesia for work purposes.
“Parents of married-off girls feel having a girl is a wasted investment.”
In rural communities it is common for parents to forcefully marry their daughters to the Quran so that the family of the daughter is then able to keep the dowry that would have been given to the husband’s family. It is tragic that, because of their lack of education, most girls do not even realize their subordination and the extent of their mistreatment since they are unaware of anything else and the false interpretation of the traditions.
Women in higher classes often have more rights and freedoms than those of lower rankings. Because their families have a sufficient amount of money, the girls have more potential exposure to education and with education comes a bright future. Fatimah Jinnah, a female Pakistani politician uses her more influential position to speak out for women and fight for their freedoms and rights. Unlike Jinnah, most women have no other option but to accept their positions of subordination since there seems to be no future hope for them.
Tradition plays a large role in this subordination. Women need to ask for permission from men before making any major decision. Jehan Ara, CEO of an IT Company, needed to ask for permission from her father before being able to travel to Indonesia for work purposes.
“Parents of married-off girls feel having a girl is a wasted investment.”
In rural communities it is common for parents to forcefully marry their daughters to the Quran so that the family of the daughter is then able to keep the dowry that would have been given to the husband’s family. It is tragic that, because of their lack of education, most girls do not even realize their subordination and the extent of their mistreatment since they are unaware of anything else and the false interpretation of the traditions.