Sexual Harassment in Karachi: Whose Fault? Kaalchakra,

thank you, I`m sure there are.

peace.

Sexual Harassment in Karachi: Whose Fault? kaalchakra,

“Mostly, this approach is taken by regressive people who want to shift the focus of change away from where it belongs - social institutions. I am sure that is not your intention.”

Most certainly not.

My reference to the ‘slap’ tactic was meant to be humorous and it is certainly not my solution (even though that’s what many of us women feel like doing). The main point of my post was assertion of women’s right in daily life. And that is necessary to attain women emancipation, as despite the insults, there is no choice other than sitting in the corner and hide. And I argue my point through valid experience as a ‘sub continental woman’. And I can claim this because, I’m no ‘true-blue Londoner’, I’ve been born and bread in Pakistan, I am only in England for my degree course. Which is why I am well aware of the predicament ‘we’ young women follow.

Peace

Sexual Harassment in Karachi: Whose Fault? I do not believe that the answer rests in moving out of the country. Keep asserting your right as a woman and teach your daughter what her rights are in this society. You as a woman are not the only one struggling for her right of space in society, trust me all of us women are struggling for the same cause. Do not lose faith. Though the Zia era pushed us women into the peripherals of society, we’ve fought our way back in twenty years. And the new generation of young women are continuing to assert their right and place in official professions, education, fashion and driving the cars, some are roaming Karachi beach on their own. And most of all, there are more men than ever before who support the women’s right. Undeniably, we want to be 100% of the perverted stares and the ridiculous hooting and let’s keep fighting for that day.

I think, there should be a new movement, when a man glares at a woman in perversion, just slap him in public. Now imagine, if every single woman did that to a man what anarchy would spread. I can just imagine, one man being slapped a good 20 times a day along with his friend by women. Hilarious.

Censorship This country is so petrified of portraying anything that insinuates sexuality. A nude painting a woman dancing etc. may provoke the animal side of a man to leap out. Completely ignoring that despite censorship people are so bloody sexually frustrated and confused that women continue being harassed and raped. Maybe if we become a sexually open society a lot of the sexual frustration that plague our society can be appeased so that the rest of can get on with admiring works of art and stop debating for what is now a common reality for the rest of the world.

A Journey Through Our Conscience Truly insightful and provocative in its nature. Very well written indeed. Do keep writing.

However, I would like to know is anything being done about the Hadood laws? Is there any reason that we can be hopeful towards the laws repeal?

Sexual Harassment in Karachi: Whose Fault? It is not only the Pakistani society that perpetuates sexual harassment on the streets but it very much exists here in England as well.

However, I do feel in comparison, that Karachi out of all the three major cities of Pakistan,( Lahore and Islamabad) is most liberal. In fact, whenever I go to Karachi and my most recent trip being last summer, I did not experience any staring problems despite the fact I was wearing pants. However, Lahore and Islamabad are appalling in that respect. I’m not arguing with the author, I’m simply stating my side of the story.

Here in England however, though it is at a lesser degree, but every man here assumes that being a woman means that all you think about it how to catch a man in order to fulfil your female insecure void and read fashion magazine to, again, please a man. In fact my lecturer blatantly accused us women to be consumed with fashion and have no interest in the realm of sociological theory. Though we argued back, he only smiled condescendingly.

Walk on the high street in the evening and the drunken British public are out to chase after you and offer themselves for sex to you. In this society, if a woman is being harassed no man will get up to save her, they would simply believe it’s the woman’s problem, and again they would blame the woman. In the streets of Pakistan, I know you will find someone who will help.

I’m not saying either of the socities are better in treatment towards women, because they are not, I’m just saying that all socities has its own degree of cons when it comes to treatment towards women. Let’s not forget that there are respective advantages. At least you have the right to pen down your feeling on this public forum, and at least there is awareness of women’s predicaments. And there are people who are striving to make the situation better and to some degree have succeeded. Things have progressed tremendously in the last few years, but I do agree we have a long way to go.

Peace.

Q for Qachas An economically feasible, culturally sound, most convenient and rational in terms of the weather and ideal for the countries image plan that you have brilliantly developed deserves chief applause. I do hope the president is reading this.

I suggest that you take your proposal and discuss it on the 9.00pm New on PTV your ultimate goal to take it to Fox News. Our very own ‘Burn the Shallo Kameeze’ revolution, how nice is that. Indeed a definitive step towards a healthy progressive society in line with the American liberal ideal ‘the pursuit of happiness’. This outta show those Yankee’s!

:):):)

Peace!

A Space of One’s Own In reference to the ridiculous arguments surrounding women’s sports and their spectators.

Now, when men watch women playing tennis, some will have perverted thoughts, some might find it attractive and nothing else, and most will watch for the sake of the sport. There is nothing wrong with admiring a woman as long as they don’t stare and purposely make her uncomfortable. If the men want to fulfil any of their sexual desire visually there really is no shortage of porn that is easily accessible. I do feel men these days are more use to the idea of sex and female flesh than ever before in time thanks to our media and internet (of course there are exceptions). When a woman decides to take up sport, or get into the media for that fact, she has already prepared herself for the few perverted animals that lurk. Women today are not that stupid, and they don’t need a man to decide whether male spectators should attend sport events in which they participate. Nor do they need men dictating whether society is safe enough for them to walk around in. like the author of the article (that everyone has forgotten about) argues, that it is up to the women to get out in society in order to win their ‘public space’. No man propagated women’s rights. It was the women who got up and started the feminist revolution. Now our rights as women, is our dimension and we should be able to decide.

And another point, why are men forgetting that women find men sexually attractive as well? So keeping with the argument that women are equal to men, and so it is wrong for men to admire a woman (insinuating women are helpless and can not fight) therefore they should be banned from women sports, then should women be banned from watching cricket matches? Because just like men, women have a sexual appetite as well, don’t forget the women and their attraction to Imran Khan.

A Space of One’s Own And the spaces we shall claim! and it would also be nice to see more couples about holding hands.
The word should be spread out to women.


Peace

Linguistic Elitism As the world comes closer and increasingly reinforces globalisation, there is a need of a common language understood by all. Aside from the history of the language, it is actually a very convenient mode of communication. And as long as the western world has dominance on literature, history, economic and commercial development, then I’m afraid we have to use the English language as a way of communication.

Seventy Days in Karachi Dunkin Donut very much exists in Karachi, but since when did American fast food dictate a cities reputation? The reason why Karachi is a city is because its one of the largest cities in Asia; Seoul (10.2 million), Bombay (9.9 million), Jakarta (9.4 million), Karachi (9.3 million).

**rolls her eyes**

peace.

Dark Places What makes fiction fascinating is the intricate combination of fantasy and reality. It is like collecting the discarded pieces of reality and juxtaposing them into fantasy. The ingredient that I felt missing ever so slightly was that of reality, which in my opinion could impede that ‘edge’ you were attempting to instigate. As pointed out before, that a woman would find it very difficult to just leave her family for another man in a second. Perhaps, the aim should be to provide an edge that would have some roots in reality that would in turn strike that truth cord in our souls. There was room in your portrait to provoke in your readers the ‘dark secret’ that we either dare not speak of or dare not act upon, if you know what I mean.

However, aside from the literary criticism, I did enjoy the read; because frankly, any account that involves passion and intimacy is an attractive read to most of us. Hope to see more. In fact I would like to know what happens to this most interesting couple :).

Seventy Days in Karachi Regardless of the equator issue, I think that the author has given a lucid account of Karachi’s ambiance. However, in my opinion, that is of course if I have misinterpreted, and so correct me if I’m wrong, but I do feel the point of your story has been submerged in description. You successfully managed to build a beautiful climax but this was overshadowed with the disappointing ending.

Peace

Oh So Vicious Ohhhh... and you had to end at the best partt.... what happend next? when the couple finally conffess to their friends, what does the best friend do?

Another day! You managed to articulate the mundaness and nothingness of a routined day from its external element, into a descriptive engrossing train of events through the minds eye. It is what I needed to read today on a monday morning.

best of luck.

America’s Moral Compass Trust me Omar, there are many Muslim men and women from all over the world, especially Pakistan who prefer individual freedom and liberty advocated in the West. For those who make excuses from life through religious dogma, in my eyes have no right to preach to us. For those who preach simply through religious references, and not through real experiences have no basis for their arguments. In the modern world where rationality is the new world language, stopping us from experiencing dating for instance with reason only being because God says so is no more adequate to our curious minds. I am not suggesting that religious faith is redundant; I Belive in quite the opposite, religious faith cements the feeling of belonging and identity coupled with spiritual hope in the world. However, it is a private issue and people in the world do not care any more who believes in what religiously. If you live in France and wear the hijaab then why live in a city of romance? Just move back to your country of origin.