Patriarchy is not just a topic in textbooks or a theory to be discussed. It is a hard truth for millions of women. It lives in laws, traditions, daily conversations, and silent expectations. Women have spent generations resisting this mindset that considers them lesser. And while we have made progress in many fields, when it comes to gender equality, we are still far behind.
History shows how women were denied education, freedom, and even the right to speak for themselves. With time, some attitudes began to shift. Societies that once refused to see women as equal began to acknowledge their strength. Today, women across the world are taking space, achieving things their grandmothers only dreamed of. But this visible progress does not change the fact that many are still fighting just to be heard.
In Pakistan, any woman who lives on her own terms is often seen as a problem. She is mocked, insulted, and at times threatened. Online spaces have made this even worse. The abuse is constant, and the attackers feel bold behind their screens. But these are not just random trolls. Many of them belong to the so-called educated class.
Despite all this, women in Pakistan are still standing. They teach in far-flung villages, run small businesses, work night shifts in hospitals, and raise families alone. Most of them are not celebrated, but their strength is real. They move forward without support, sometimes without safety, and still refuse to give up.
Yes, the laws have improved. Women’s rights are written in policy. A quota system was introduced to increase their participation in politics. But these steps on paper do not reflect in everyday life. Streets are unsafe. Offices are unequal. Families still teach girls to lower their voice, shrink their dreams, and stay inside invisible walls.
The numbers speak clearly. According to the Ministry of Human Rights, more than 63,000 cases of violence against women were reported in the past three years. Most cases still go unreported. The Digital Rights Foundation documented over 3,100 complaints of online abuse in 2024 alone. In the same year, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan recorded 346 killings in the name of honor.
Among the most targeted are women journalists. They are regularly abused online with filthy language and personal attacks. Their work is dismissed. Their presence is threatened. This is not just hated from a few anonymous accounts. Even powerful voices in media and politics take part in this character assassination.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 report, Pakistan ranks 145 out of 146 countries on the global gender gap index. Only Sudan is behind. Countries like Bangladesh and India are ahead by a wide margin. This is a reflection of how far we have to go, not just in policy, but in mindset.
Louise Otto-Peters, a German feminist, once wrote that women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves. Her words still matter. Patriarchy has not gone quiet. But women are no longer quiet either. They are thinking. They are speaking. They are refusing to be pushed aside.
Author: Ali Asjad Taifoor – Student of Government College University Lahore