The women of Pakistan have a varied profile that stretches across topography and classes. The urban and rural divide has been widening now; more so with the irregular socioeconomic developments in the country. Moreover, the religion, tribal, feudal, and socio-capitalistic divides further hamper the growth of women in Pakistan.
Arguably, a Pakistani woman enjoys much more freedom and better health and education facilities. Fortunately, Paki women also enjoy better status than their Middle Eastern and Islamic counterparts. The government has been trying to uplift the status of women in Pakistan, but it’s an uphill task and requires a paradigm shift in the way society (man-made rules) perceives women. Still considered as inferior or subordinated to the male dominated society, Paki women have to do much to find their own place under the sun. Almost 90% of the households in Pakistan have a male member as the head, while most household with women heads belong to the lower strata of the Paki society.
But Pakistani woman also has to follow certain practices as demands of a religious and male run society. Some of these practices are elaborated below.
1. Purdah – It’s a norm that is followed by a majority of communities in the country and is practiced in many different ways depending on the region, class, area of residence (urban or rural scenario) and family values.
2. Child Marriage – Even though it’s illegal for girls below 16 years of age to be married (As per the Child Marriages Restraint Act), there are frequent instances of child marriages, especially in the rural areas. The tribal clans of the Punjab province practice a child marriage ritual called ‘Vani,’ where young girls are married forcibly in order to settle feuds between warring clans. Interestingly, if the girl’s clan agrees to pay up money or ‘Deet’, Vani is avoided.
3. Honor Killings – Almost 99% of the victims of honor killings in Pakistan are women. The punishments given to those who kill women under the pretext of honor killings are often punished leniently and sometimes, go unpunished even. Honor killing is a term described for killing of a person who is suspected of having an illegitimate relationship (or ‘karo kari’ in Baluchistan/Sind provinces). Typically, honor killings have been reported against those women who have married against their family’s wishes, or want a divorce, or have been raped.
Cultural Norms for Pakistani Women
Women in Pakistan wear different dresses again depending on the classes, regions, and event. The common dress is the Shalwar Kameez. The Gharara or a loose divided skirt is often worn with a blouse and was very common until some years ago, but now rich and embellished variations of it are worn at special occasions such as marriages. Sari is another dress donned by the women in urban milieu. It is worn on regular as well as on special events.
While it is true that women in Pakistan don’t enjoy the same lifestyle, freedom, and status as that enjoyed by women in the West, it’s also true that Paki women are increasingly breaking barriers and making a name for themselves rather convincingly!
By: Hayi Mansoor
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