In many parts of our society, a woman is seen in relation to others as someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s wife, or someone’s mother. Rarely is she acknowledged as an individual in her own right. Who is she? A human being. Why is she here? To play her role in society, just like anyone else. How is she treated? Far too often, she is silenced, overlooked, and denied her rightful place.
Undermining women has long been an issue in our society. The belief that they are secondary to men, undeserving of equal rights, and bound to certain roles has been normalized for generations. This mindset continues to restrict women from living freely and fully, robbing them of their basic liberties.
The outdated idea that a woman belongs only within the four walls of a home is a major barrier to her growth. Even when a woman shows her unique abilities, her identity is often overlooked or deliberately diminished by those who fail to recognize her worth. Due to this, women do not even truly know themselves before they teach their daughters to be someone. This deliberate ignorance is harmful, and it continues to hold back progress.
Women have rights. Women have liberties. They deserve them as much as men do. Many women in our communities have the potential to lead, build, and create positive change. But they remain confined and small, not because they lack ambition, but because their families don’t support them, their communities discourage them, or they find themselves constantly seeking approval from those who never truly value them.
Women also have the legal and constitutional right to participate in politics. They hold the right to vote freely, without being influenced or judged. They can contest in elections, hold public office, speak in decision making forums, and be respected as equals in professional spaces. Equal participation of women in political sector is important for building strong democratic societies.
Sadly, women across the country still face both verbal and physical abuse, often within their own homes and in public. Online spaces are no safer, with harassment and degrading comments becoming far too common. No man has the right to harm a woman, whether behind closed doors or in a public place. No one has the right to influence her choices or speak on her behalf. A woman is capable of making her own decisions and should be given the freedom to do so.
In many households, boys are still seen as superior to girls. As a result, girls are often allowed to study only up to a certain level before being forced into marriage, while boys continue their education. Many of these girls hold significantly more potential compared to the boys they are overlooked for. Every girl deserves access to education. She should be free to pursue her dreams, develop her skills, and build a career without fear of rejection or judgment.
To truly see what women are capable of, we need only to look at the transformation of many professions. More girls are now enrolling in medical colleges than boys. Law, once considered unsuitable for women, now has growing female representation. In the past, civil service exams like CSS were dominated by men, but today, increasing numbers of women are appearing for and excelling in these exams, taking on senior roles in government institutions. These women succeeded not by luck, but because they were given the confidence, support, and freedom to grow.
There are numerous examples of Pakistani women who have carved their mark in history and even today, continue to shape a much brighter future. Fatima Jinnah played a vital role in the creation of Pakistan and stood as a symbol of strength, dignity, and resistance. Benazir Bhutto broke barriers by becoming the first woman to be the head of a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country. Asma Jahangir dedicated her life to defending human rights and became an internationally renowned and respected lawyer and activist. Justice Ayesha Malik made history by becoming the first woman judge to be appointed to Pakistan’s Supreme Court. These women, stood as the symbols of strength, courage, determination, and commitment, for other women of our nation and showed us what women can achieve when they are supported and allowed to fly high.
History and the present, both offer enough evidence to imply that women are intelligent, capable, and deserving of every opportunity. Their rights must be upheld, and the laws that protect them must be executed effectively. We must create a culture of respect, equality, and safety where women feel empowered to participate, contribute, and lead.
Today more than ever, it is crucial to raise awareness about women’s rights and liberties. When women are treated with dignity and are provided with the freedom they deserve they achieve their goals, and contribute to the growth and progress of the entire country.
To conclude, in the words of Michelle Obama, “If you don’t get out there and define yourself, you’ll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others.” These are words every woman should hold close.
Author: Maira Ahmed, Student of Law at The Institute of Legal Studies (TILS)