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Pakistan election: what do women want? Food, freedom and peace Pakistan election: what do women want? Food, freedom and peace
(5 months later)
As Pakistan inches closer to an election on 11 May, and the accompanying heat and dust get even thicker, it is pertinent to stop for a moment and ask: what do female voters in Pakistan want?As Pakistan inches closer to an election on 11 May, and the accompanying heat and dust get even thicker, it is pertinent to stop for a moment and ask: what do female voters in Pakistan want?
All women want is three square meals and an education for their children, according to Shabina Bibi, a mother of four in her 30s who lives in a shanty near the Kemari port in Karachi.All women want is three square meals and an education for their children, according to Shabina Bibi, a mother of four in her 30s who lives in a shanty near the Kemari port in Karachi.
"My husband lost his job last month," she told IPS, "and for the first time in my life, I have had to venture out, looking for a job." She is now a domestic worker in Karachi."My husband lost his job last month," she told IPS, "and for the first time in my life, I have had to venture out, looking for a job." She is now a domestic worker in Karachi.
It has taken Bibi – and her husband – tremendous courage to step beyond this boundary. The participation of women in Pakistan's labour force is just 28%, according to this year's World Bank world development report. In this society, gender roles are strictly defined: a woman has to stay at home to look after the family, while it's the man's job to go out and provide for them.It has taken Bibi – and her husband – tremendous courage to step beyond this boundary. The participation of women in Pakistan's labour force is just 28%, according to this year's World Bank world development report. In this society, gender roles are strictly defined: a woman has to stay at home to look after the family, while it's the man's job to go out and provide for them.
There is nothing more that female voters want in Saturday's election than to be able to move beyond the traditional stereotypes and walk shoulder to shoulder with men. No longer content to be confined to the shadows of home, they want to step out into the light and participate actively in the public sphere.There is nothing more that female voters want in Saturday's election than to be able to move beyond the traditional stereotypes and walk shoulder to shoulder with men. No longer content to be confined to the shadows of home, they want to step out into the light and participate actively in the public sphere.
It's not easy being a woman in Pakistan, said Tahira Abdullah, a peace activist in the capital, Islamabad, especially for those who occupy the lower rungs of the economic ladder. "Women face disproportionately high levels of poverty, work in exploitative labour conditions, get little or no remuneration, face the double burden of housework and reproductive responsibility, and are subjected to gender-based violence," she said.It's not easy being a woman in Pakistan, said Tahira Abdullah, a peace activist in the capital, Islamabad, especially for those who occupy the lower rungs of the economic ladder. "Women face disproportionately high levels of poverty, work in exploitative labour conditions, get little or no remuneration, face the double burden of housework and reproductive responsibility, and are subjected to gender-based violence," she said.
Abdullah wants to see this change in the elections and hopes for a more emancipated leadership. "It's time political parties woke up to the feminisation of poverty in Pakistan, which is resulting in disproportionate misery and injustice for women," she said.Abdullah wants to see this change in the elections and hopes for a more emancipated leadership. "It's time political parties woke up to the feminisation of poverty in Pakistan, which is resulting in disproportionate misery and injustice for women," she said.
However, in a conservative society such as Pakistan, that is akin to asking for the moon. "Most men still believe in their own chauvinism and consider women taking a backseat as appropriate to their gender," said Najma Sadeque, a journalist in Karachi. "The process would have been faster had we got rid of the feudal system and the fundamentalists."However, in a conservative society such as Pakistan, that is akin to asking for the moon. "Most men still believe in their own chauvinism and consider women taking a backseat as appropriate to their gender," said Najma Sadeque, a journalist in Karachi. "The process would have been faster had we got rid of the feudal system and the fundamentalists."
There are about 37 million registered female voters in Pakistan, making up 44% of the country's 86 million-strong electorate. Another 11 million women are eligible to vote but have not registered. Women seldom get heard or find leaders on decision-making bodies to represent their views. Their aspirations for their country offer differ radically from men's – but again, these are never articulated.There are about 37 million registered female voters in Pakistan, making up 44% of the country's 86 million-strong electorate. Another 11 million women are eligible to vote but have not registered. Women seldom get heard or find leaders on decision-making bodies to represent their views. Their aspirations for their country offer differ radically from men's – but again, these are never articulated.
According to gender specialist Naheed Aziz, in Islamabad, women are more concerned about day-to-day affairs like food, water, health, sanitation and the welfare of their children.According to gender specialist Naheed Aziz, in Islamabad, women are more concerned about day-to-day affairs like food, water, health, sanitation and the welfare of their children.
"The country a woman wants is one where she is not treated as a secondary citizen," said Aziz, "where she can live with peace and dignity, has a say in the affairs affecting her life, and is not subjected to age-old negative socio-cultural traditions; where her honour and life are not threatened within her home or her community, where she feels secure, where she and her family members will not be subjected to violence and exploitation, where the rule of law prevails, and where everyone has equal and equitable justice.""The country a woman wants is one where she is not treated as a secondary citizen," said Aziz, "where she can live with peace and dignity, has a say in the affairs affecting her life, and is not subjected to age-old negative socio-cultural traditions; where her honour and life are not threatened within her home or her community, where she feels secure, where she and her family members will not be subjected to violence and exploitation, where the rule of law prevails, and where everyone has equal and equitable justice."
Abdullah said: "Women want a welfare state, not a nuclearised security-driven state." She added that, unlike men who "are obsessed" with themselves, their biradari (clan) or feudal and tribal politics, women worry about the future of their families.Abdullah said: "Women want a welfare state, not a nuclearised security-driven state." She added that, unlike men who "are obsessed" with themselves, their biradari (clan) or feudal and tribal politics, women worry about the future of their families.
"Women are inherently peace-loving and envisage a world free of weapons, war and strife," Abdullah said. They prefer lawmakers to devote their energy to solving the nation's problems rather than worrying about who to go to war with or how much money to spend on defence, she added."Women are inherently peace-loving and envisage a world free of weapons, war and strife," Abdullah said. They prefer lawmakers to devote their energy to solving the nation's problems rather than worrying about who to go to war with or how much money to spend on defence, she added.
Agreeing with this sentiment, Sadeque said women have rarely started or propagated wars. "There are few Margaret Thatchers among women," she remarked.Agreeing with this sentiment, Sadeque said women have rarely started or propagated wars. "There are few Margaret Thatchers among women," she remarked.
Yet, women are the ones affected disproportionately by conflict and disaster situations, she said. To help change this, women must be better represented in political bodies, and they must have a say on the issues that affect them.Yet, women are the ones affected disproportionately by conflict and disaster situations, she said. To help change this, women must be better represented in political bodies, and they must have a say on the issues that affect them.
The Aurat Foundation, an organisation working for the rights of women, has long advocated an increase in the representation of women in the national and provincial assemblies, from 17% to 33%. The foundation has asked political parties to hold internal elections for female candidates and to create women-only constituencies, to ensure a level playing field during elections. So far, none of these recommendations has been accepted.The Aurat Foundation, an organisation working for the rights of women, has long advocated an increase in the representation of women in the national and provincial assemblies, from 17% to 33%. The foundation has asked political parties to hold internal elections for female candidates and to create women-only constituencies, to ensure a level playing field during elections. So far, none of these recommendations has been accepted.
The foundation produced a handbook with suggestions on women's empowerment, to be included in the election manifestos of political parties. While a few parties included some of the recommendations in their manifestos, most were "relegated to a separate chapter", said Abdullah, who co-wrote the handbook with Aziz.The foundation produced a handbook with suggestions on women's empowerment, to be included in the election manifestos of political parties. While a few parties included some of the recommendations in their manifestos, most were "relegated to a separate chapter", said Abdullah, who co-wrote the handbook with Aziz.
Among the suggestions were the repeal of discriminatory legislation against women and/or minorities, action against negative socio-cultural practices, legislation against domestic violence or violence against women in general, and giving title deeds to women when allocating land to landless peasants.Among the suggestions were the repeal of discriminatory legislation against women and/or minorities, action against negative socio-cultural practices, legislation against domestic violence or violence against women in general, and giving title deeds to women when allocating land to landless peasants.
A few parties even promised to ban jirgas (tribal or village councils), but most of them hedged and suggested an alternative dispute resolution system under the local government.A few parties even promised to ban jirgas (tribal or village councils), but most of them hedged and suggested an alternative dispute resolution system under the local government.
Unfortunately, few women are members of the parties' manifesto committees. "The female to male ratio among those who have helped with party manifesto documents is, on average, three females to 20 males," said Aziz.Unfortunately, few women are members of the parties' manifesto committees. "The female to male ratio among those who have helped with party manifesto documents is, on average, three females to 20 males," said Aziz.
So what chances do women have of being heard in this election? They have a long way to go, certainly. Of the 23,079 candidates seeking general seats in the national assembly, only 3.5% are women, according to the election commission. Political parties refused to bow to pressure from civil society to reserve 10% of the spots on tickets for female candidates.So what chances do women have of being heard in this election? They have a long way to go, certainly. Of the 23,079 candidates seeking general seats in the national assembly, only 3.5% are women, according to the election commission. Political parties refused to bow to pressure from civil society to reserve 10% of the spots on tickets for female candidates.
As a result, only 36 women across Pakistan have been able to secure spots on tickets to run for general seats in the national assembly. There are 817 female candidates, though, who are standing for the 60 seats reserved for women in the national assembly. In addition, 64 female candidates are campaigning on an independent ticket – outside any party affiliation.As a result, only 36 women across Pakistan have been able to secure spots on tickets to run for general seats in the national assembly. There are 817 female candidates, though, who are standing for the 60 seats reserved for women in the national assembly. In addition, 64 female candidates are campaigning on an independent ticket – outside any party affiliation.
However, what women are doing is getting out into the field and campaigning for their leaders. Party leaders are "ensuring women's participation in their election rallies through the women's wings [of the parties], to garner their votes and nominate them for their reserved seats", said Abdullah.However, what women are doing is getting out into the field and campaigning for their leaders. Party leaders are "ensuring women's participation in their election rallies through the women's wings [of the parties], to garner their votes and nominate them for their reserved seats", said Abdullah.
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