Women 'banned from shopping alone' in northern Pakistan: A Reflection

"We have decided that women will not visit bazaars without a male relative," the cleric, Maulana Mirzaqeem, was quoted as telling AFP news agency.

"Those who will visit markets without male relatives will be handed over to police.

"They spread vulgarity and spoil men's fasting in Ramadan."

(quoted from BBC 20 July 2013)

If we look at the quotation above it is obvious that idea of banning women in public was inspired by misogynistic views. Women were accused as source of “fitnah” (chaos) or moral degradation of men in Karak District in Pakistan. Though culturally women in Pakistan’s tribal North-west cover their heads and bodies, but it is still not enough. Why are men afraid of women in public without accompaniment? 

Firstly, in patriarchal society, people believe the division of labor is natural inspired by religious teaching. Moreover, it is strongly believed as religious teaching that has tied women must be responsible for do households and men are in charged as head of household, who most of the time dealing with public sphere. The rigid division of labor is misleading to restriction of women going to public. As a result, we found many Muslim women are not confidence dealing with social life and are often targeted by men in sexual assault, rape, harassment, fraud and only on be passive object. 

Secondly, men are feeling threaten because of socio, economic, religious and cultural pressure that always position men in advantage situation as “unquestioned power”. Unlike women, men are more enjoying privileges in the community as public adventurer. While women are likely playing disadvantage actors, who often suffering from violence against women, lack of education, less payment, and often neglected from decision making process in the community and national level. When globalization is open access for women, men who think narrowly perceiving that increasing women in public will increase more competitor. Currently, girls are more committed to education and pass with high score, who will have better chance to get prestigious job. While, men are not well prepared for facing globalization, keeping dreaming that they are leader forever, and do not need hard effort to enjoy opportunity because the world belongs to men. The situation has changed dramatically, that causes men are not able to compete, then channel their social jealousy to oppressive and violent acts. 

To conclude, banning women in public will increase more resistance among other muslim women living in different part of the world, who many of them already enjoy freedom, so their livelihood has improved. Ironically, when Islamic teaching supports women to enjoy freedom as human being, in contrary the ulama of Karak District in Pakistan is trying to push back women into domestic. Moreover, this attitude will decrade Islamic teaching that always support women’s rights. ***

Source of Photo http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23388205