Aurat March – a Women’s Day Ritual in Pakistan
Women’s day is on its way and a vast number of human rights associations, NGOs, artists, feminists, students, etc. are getting ready for Pakistan’s Aurat March. The event started on March 08th, 2018 in Pakistan and has now become a ritual. Aurat means “Women” in Urdu.
Pakistani society is becoming aware of women’s rights and Aurat March involves countless women marching on roads with placards (against social values and in favour of women’s rights) in their hands. These placards called for equal opportunities for women, justice for victims of abuse, violence, and harassment, labor rights for women, daycare centers at the workplace, dowry, female fetus abortion, economic justice, and highlighted several major issues.
The march was labeled as propaganda by elitist women to instill western values in the lower roots of the society. Despite making it controversial by a large segment of society, next year in 2019, thousands of marchers came out instead of so much resistance by anti-feminists in Pakistan. This time the marchers didn’t only include people from the upper classes, but a large number of participants came from rural areas, underprivileged classes, trans community, and so on. The participants claimed that the sole purpose behind Aurat March is to claim equal rights for women/trans and don’t promote any Agenda.
The game got even bigger in 2020. The activists didn’t just rely on placards instead they had prepared a manifesto to show their demands and planned to build alliances in different segments of the society. Famous politicians including PTI’s (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) Shireen Mazari also supported the Aurat March and showed solidarity with the participants.
Artists have played a major role for Aurat March participating and earning wide media attention. Theatres, songs, poems, speeches, social media posts were made by artists in solidarity with Aurat March.
Famous actress Mahirah Khan has announced that she will be a part of Aurat March 2021. According to her, she will be participating to let people know that she is a part of this ideology. She added that the march might not be able to make a difference, but the impact it makes is huge. Mukhtara Mai, a social and gender activist, who was also a victim of gang rape in her past, also tweeted a video message of her inclusion in Aurat March 2021.
Last year, a large number of celebrities attended the march and some even shared their experiences of harassment and molestation. These celebrities included Mira Sethi, Adnan Malik, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Nadia Afgan, Osman Khalid Butt, Hajra Yamin, Ali Tareen, Saba Hamid, Samina Ahmed, among many others.
The placards that led to the nationwide outrage and made the march controversial were “Mera Jism, Meri Marzi” (My Body, My Choice), “Apna Khana Khud Garam kro” (Make food for Yourself), Follow Women’s Consent, Forced Hijab, and Taboo topics like menstruation, and the list goes on.
Religious segments on the other hand are not happy with the March and are trying their best to stop it. There have been even reports of threats by extremist groups as well. The agenda for 2021 revolves around budget increase for health, and trans and disabilities rights. Let’s see what this year holds for the newly born ritual.
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