Silent Battles : The Daily Struggles of Women Amidst Harassment and Assault in Pakistan 

   

Pakistan, a nation rich in culture and history, is also a country where women face daily hurdles and harassment in various aspects of life. Despite significant progress in some parts, gender inequality and discrimination continue to persist, resulting in a myriad of challenges for women.

In this blog, I shed light on the daily struggles women encounter in Pakistan and call for collective efforts to create a safer, more inclusive society. Despites the existence of laws to protect women against sexual harassment and humiliation at their places of work, they continue to experience physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional victimization. Whilst the laws are there to encourage and support women to challenge their treatment, many professional environments still remain toxic, and perpetrators are not discouraged from subjecting women to an unending cycle of humiliation and victimization.

A difficult irony for women in Pakistan is that, should a victim speak up about physical or sexual abuse, she is seen as having lost her and her family's dignity. Many rapes go unreported as the victim fears she will become worthless in Pakistani society.  In this blog, I will discuss my own experiences as well as those close to me as I voice my opposition to the mistreatment of women in this nation. 

Life is challenging for women in Pakistan, especially when you are in the younger phase of your life. The way you dress, speak, eat, go out matters a lot to the people here. Harassment and assault against women in Pakistan cut across class, caste, and ethnic lines, affecting women from all walks of life. Studies indicate that a significant number of women, at least once in their lives, have experienced some form of harassment or assault be it catcalling, verbal abuse, or stalking to more severe incidents like physical assault and sexual abuse. The impact of these traumas extends far beyond the immediate incident, leaving deep emotional scars that can last a lifetime.

These incidents are becoming more and more common and the frantic and lustful maniacs are becoming more fearless. Women fear facing any form of sexual abuse when they leave their homes. And those who go out due to compulsion live in constant fear, fearing that they might become prey to some savage beast. 

I would like to share my personal experience first, I grew up in a very pampered and over-protected environment where my parents were always there to protect me. However, when I enrolled in university, I experienced traveling alone, which was not a pleasant experience at all. Traveling in public transport became a daily mental torture for me; people's hostile gazes and their facial expressions were like a nightmare. I had to face physical assault on several occasions, and I was subjected to inappropriate gestures and touches, which made me feel violated and unsafe but what saddened me the most was that when it did occur, all the other men present on the bus would simply turn their gaze away and ignore what was happening. After facing all these things, I finally ended up hiring a van for myself because my courage had been drained from facing such harassment daily.  Similar incidents happened with my friends, my cousin and I am sure that every other girl who ventures outside her home or travels alone have gone through such traumas.

Harassment and assault against women in Pakistan is a serious matter that needs immediate attention and action. Women may be empowered to break free from the chains of harassment by providing them with education, skill training, and economic opportunities. We can only expect to establish a safer and more fair society for all if we work together to challenge cultural norms, enhance legal measures, and empower women. Let us join in our determination to put an end to the culture of harassment and abuse and pave the path for a better and safer future for women in Pakistan.

I hope this blog helps and makes a difference in this society and I wish for all the girls in this country to become fearless, courageous and strong enough to fight those lusty lunatics.

 Written by: Barira Hassan

  BS 1st Year *IR