Hi Ed I just read this article and while I somewhat agree with what most of it claimed I did not like a few points:
•‘The role of women is fundamentally influenced by two significant mores, one being the cultural norm of ‘Pardah’ (veil)…two subdivisions within the Pardah, the system of female seclusion and sex segregation, defining different spatial for the daily activities of men and women. Women’s activities are mainly limited to the domestic arena, while men are encouraged to seek employment in industry and commerce. The second is the veil, or the conceiling cloak known as the ‘burqa’, worm by women whenever they venture outside the home. The veil or ‘burqa’ can be described as a portable means of seclusion.’ (4)
➢ First of all it is not compulsory for Pakistani women to wear the burqa and I think pardah is not really a barricade for middle and higher class women in business. Yes it is true that women from lower classes in villages may be restricted from this specific concept. For example Karachi is the economic hub of Pakistan full of MNCs and other booming businesses. And within these companies you can find women and men working together in the same space, in fact you may even find a woman from a middle class conservative background wearing a burqa and interacting with her male peers conducting her daily duties within the office.
➢HOWEVER, if a woman from a lower class or who comes from a rural village wants to begin a business or wants to work within an area of commerce she will definitely be restricted from the concept of ‘pardah’ most probably from the men within her household who have been unfortunately raised to think women only belong in the home and should not mix with men from outside the family. In fact I think the idea of ‘izzat’ (honour) is the main reason why these women are so restricted by these families and the concept of izzat is why these poverty stricken communities restrict their women from working or leaving their homes.
➢This paper states that izzat and pardah is what restricts them in regards to structural mobility and obtaining things such as loans and etc. and it furthermore says that women are often not permitted to leave their houses and independently mix with boys → I think if this were actually true no woman would be able to successfully run a business. Perhaps they should have not used the words izzat and pardah so harshly unless they were specifically referring to entrepreneurs in rural villages where izzat is a way of life for women.
•They mention a hadith on page 21 where they speak of the prophet prohibiting women from leaving the home. The Quran refers to Queen of Sheeba who ruled her kingdom well in accordance to faith.
➢I think they should have definitely mentioned here that hadiths are open to interpretation and is not like the Quran where the rules are set. What is stated in the hadith is not set in stone they are just excerpts from what the prophet’s companions have said in regards to their leader and his way of life. A hadith is in no way a book of rules that a Muslim MUST follow. But I do like that they mentioned the prophet’s first wife and how she was a powerful business woman → I really do thing this a fact that a lot of Muslims forget when they set double standards for their women.
For me personally I think Pakistan is country where politicians and people of high power use religion as an excuse to manipulate the nation into getting their way. For example Pakistan has a blasphemy law where thousands of lower class Christians and Hindus have been wrongly persecuted. The blasphemy law states that if anyone is heard saying something disrespectful about Islam they will immediately be sentenced to death. This law has wrongly allowed many rural peoples to imprison people of a different faith without any evidence. This is definitely NOT what Islam preaches in fact there is no concept of blasphemy in Islam. However, this is just a small example of a law within our justice system that was placed by a leader who wanted to ‘Islamicize’ the country whilst sipping on a glass of wine. If I had an option I would eliminate Sharia law and make Pakistan a secular state (which it was originally supposed to be) and eliminate madrasas (Islamic schools) that have taught and manipulated our men to hate and restrict our women from their right to education and work. Religion is a choice and Pakistan has abused Islam and as a result has destroyed the country, its economy, and the respect of its women.
I’ve had a lot of time to think about Islam and women and etc. in regards to Pakistan and since I do not have the power to make Pakistan a secular state and increase education rates within the country I guess the most important thing inspiring female entrepreneurs can do is receive support from other women. I definitely think women only training is essential for the skills these women lack. I also really enjoyed the suggestions made in the article to better the working environment for female entrepreneurs, especially in regards to public transport. They mention in the suggestion that they should allow more seats for women but I personally think that they should just have separate buses just for women run by women. Although the bright female entrepreneurs have many barricades to being successful in Pakistan, nothing is impossible.
No comments:
Post a Comment