a woman's revolution in pakistan?

Mehreen, Marge, and Baghi Bano are three young women in Pakistan who are defying every backward tradition.  They spoke to us about the burgeoning women's revolution in Pakistan, and its radical and novel tactics to combat sexism and patriarchy.  We asked them what prompted them into this movement.

Boredom.  We got bored of gluing cell phones to our ear and stapling glittery necklines and bells to our frocks.  We were sick of obsessing over the fact that our upper lips weren't plump enough, or our waistlines too plump.  We were sick of being paraded like cattle in front of  prospective mother-in-laws, and having them reject us over something as silly as skin tone or that our degree wasn't from a top notch school.

We started a new trend.  We dared women to burn their designer shoes and glittery necklines in public places as a signal that they will no longer perpetuate regressive rituals.  We even did that little maneuver only women know how to do and pulled out our bras through our sleeves and tied them to our heads.  

Baghi Bano said she believes in direct action rather than symbolism that is reminiscent of the American women's movement.  She recounted her last experience with a bride hunter who had come to see her for her son.  


I served samosas, patties, and cake and smiled sweetly.  She was delighted because I have straight hair, light skin, and the cutest nose.  Then I proceeded to load my own plate with patties and samosas and sit opposite her with my legs uncrossed, quite (un)demurely, and narrated my exploits at LUMS.  Now this lady was so surprised the foundation on her face popped out of her face,  "You mean to say that you are not a virgin,"  she said incredulously.   "All I am saying is neither is your son.  In fact he is a rapist because he has coerced your servant's daughter to sleep with him for the last two years."  BB  guffawed and snorted as she recalled the expression on this woman's face.  

We pressed on.  But, surely this must have been severely traumatic for your own mother.

Yes it was; but its uncanny.  Mothers usually come around to see their daughters point of view.  Sometimes, it takes a lifetime, but they do.  She broke a plate or two, and then when she was calmer I took her out for a burger.

All this is well and good for middle and upper middle class women, but what about working class women.  I doubt sexual autonomy is their number one issue or even economically empowering for them.  

Well we do not purport to represent the issues of all women, but we are working on wage and labor laws and making the powers recognize and remunerate home based work as productive work.

We pushed the women to talk about the Ladies Guerrilla Power Tehreek (LGPT).  This is a totally exciting component.

We have trained small groups of women in the martial arts.  Our hotline will channel complaints to them - middle men who drop piece rate work to women and do not pay - bosses who sexually harass female colleagues - or abusive husbands who refuse to return their wives dowry once they have left  They will show up to their workplaces and home, and physically humiliate them.  We will rely on the typical tactics employed by hooligans and bullies - we will parade them half naked, subject them to hostile stares, garland them with shoes, trim or cut their mustaches - and do what naturally comes out of our bag of historical and culturally specific tricks to get the abusers to pay for their crimes.  

But aren't you promoting vigilante justice and reinforcing the same cruel and sexist techniques that men use to subjugate women that you challenge?

We have to start somewhere.  If our institutions are not going to protect women, then we must.  Policewomen unfortunately are stooges of their male counterparts.  Our use is real, but a metaphor.  We will also have LGPT women stand at corners shops, ride motor cycles, and otherwise engage in what is (mis)perceived as badmashi if done by women, in order to dispel peoples' stereotypes about how women are supposed to behave in public. It is the same women who will then put out their ciggies and help the blind, tehla vendors, and poor students cross the streets.  In our first ever trial run we had a small LGPT group get a woman her kids back from her violent husband and his venomous mother.  

This is inspiring but a bit alienating.  We are a country teeming with people sympathetic to the jamaat and deeply religious.  Aren't you meddling with peoples' sensibilities?

Remember the LGPT has a mix of women.  While most of the members will wear shalwars and long t-shirts, we even have women in hijab and burqa working with them.  We believe that women have a right to dress however they want.   Burqa clad women have to fight the stereotype that they wear the veil for "show," that they are really sluts who need the privacy to conduct their business.  Or they wear burqa so they may stare madly at men to their heart's content. That is not the case.  Burqa clad women are normal people who are raised to use the veil as a shield against hostile stares from men- so they may participate in public life or seek employment safely.  They are striving for justice and equality just like all other women.


So you promote the burqa - does it not conflict with your principles?


We believe it is a woman's choice but that ultimately with the reforming of our public culture and reeducation, there will be a very limited need to resort to burqa.  Eminent bone surgeon Dr. Solomon Khan who works at Abassi Shaheed has written about how burqa leads to vitamin D deficiency and bone deformation.  In line with our radicalism we are working on an all women's day at the beach.  Burqa women will use this day to shed their hijabs, and other clothing, and frolic on the shores in nothing but rubber slippers, so they can absorb sunlight and otherwise be free.  If the zoo can have a ladies day on Wednesday, why not the beach?


Surely, there must be more to your movement than beach day?


Our sister group is the SAP - the stupid aunty project.  This group comprises women who were previously preoccupied with silly consumerism and self improvement.  However they hated themselves, specially the ones over thirty who were inundated with conflicting, insulting images regardless of how nice they smelled.  They were seen as vindictive, self conscious, predatory, desperate to appear youthful, unwelcome in cafes where younger people smoked sheesha, quarrelsome, compulsive shoppers storekeepers would never tolerate but for the wads of cash, demanding, subject of their husband's constant jokes because of their depreciating looks, undesirable, and suspicious.


We asked them in focus groups and many saw that the only way to beat the stereotype was to beat the truth behind the stereotype.    After all we are country of Asma Jahangirs and Fehmida Riazes.  Marinas and Sania Saeeds.  Many SAPs have since blossomed.  Some recycle trash and do compost trainings at restaurants; some have funded neighborhood libraries; some do consumer awareness - you are what you wear kind of movement; so if you do not know whether the worker at a gul ahmed factory was paid proper wages - you are disallowed from ever purchasing from them.  Some pull off billboards that block the roads or carry offensive images of women.  Some manage traffic.


But weren't society ladies already doing this kind of work?  I mean getting Lyceum and Jaffer Public School kids to paints city walls, and doing charity melas with recycled products?


Yes, they were.  But women are not simply collecting old toys and clothes.  They are working as a bridge called our backs between the informal and unregulated trash collectors and the government to make recycling more effective, efficient and environmentally sound.  As one stupid aunty remarked.  "I used to be trash.  Now I manage it."  They are seeking long term solutions to the problems faced by our city,  They are boycotting most products because they can't verify the origins.  


These are the bare simple ladies of the modern era. They are coming of age.  They are rediscovering the fire in their souls.  Opening libraries may not be a novel concept.  But look how many libraries we have in our beloved city.  In May when it is crunch time, students rush to the defence central library so they may study in an air-conditioned hall.  One day the library became so full, the AC ceased to work, and a irate guard came and evicted about 456 young men and women.  There was a scuffle for sharpeners, erasers and rulers that were unceremoniously thrown out after the evicted students.  They can't go to Gymkhana or Sindh Club to study; most of the awaam are not members.  The heat is stifling.  


So where did they go?


Home, of course.  The girls made fluffy chapatis; the boys flew kites.  Most kids failed their exams.


I can't help feel that your movement reflects an end to femininity, sugar spice and all things nice; it is unrealistic given how steeped we are in culture and religion.  Also I feel it reeks of elitism despite its often radical stances.


Give it chance, father fucker, BB responded with a start.


To this we all guffawed and snorted.  It was a a fun evening chatting with the radical gals of the women's revolution.  now I must promptly burn my bra.  But girls, can I please keep my sports bra?