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The South Asian Reality

Personally, I disapprove of the term ‘feminist’, simply because it suggests that those who believe in gender equality are trying to attain some sort of entitlement when really, a ‘feminist’ is only someone who recognises the denied rights of half the human population.

Within western communities, there is no doubt that women have made considerable progress in terms of overthrowing the patriarchy and traditional gender roles, although, sadly, this isn't true for the majority of South Asia, where women are still victims of intense male dominance and objectification. Being of South Asian descent, I am very familiar with the culture and I strongly feel that the halt of South Asian women's progression lies in the very cultural values and beliefs that South Asia maintains. The suppression of women and the denial of their individuality is seen to be rooted at the very core of the social structure, in which men hold the monopoly of power.

Misogyny has been institutionalised within every society, every generation and every culture. Some have been more successful than others with overcoming the prejudice, but most of South Asia hasn’t. Having had first-hand experience of a British, South Asian community, I am always left astounded by parents who desperately desire a son and am even saddened and angered by the profound grief they experience at the birth of a girl.

To think that we are living in a digital age – an era that has seen so much technological advancement and social change – and there is still the coexistence of such deep prejudice and hatred against women, is beyond outrageous. Personally, I think it’s because of certain, destructive beliefs that are still circulating within these communities – one of which includes the idea that a girl is a ‘burden’ to her family. There is a widely accepted notion that the family’s honour and respectability lies within the chastity and control of its women, which proves central to the tight-knit, South Asian communities since the implications of a tainted reputation often leads to shame and harassment.

The fear of experiencing such shame and harassment is what initiates the over-protection of daughters and sisters and, somewhere in a family’s strive for acceptability, the drug of their "izzat” [honour] numbs the humanity within them. I believe it is at this point where, despite their personal beliefs, members of the community feel compelled to conform to the misogynistic values and assign themselves control over their female counterparts.

Many families perceive a woman’s own choice in marriage as a threat to their reputation, since the romanticisation of arranged marriages and their credibility within these societies, leads to the condemnation of a marriage based on love. Although such criticism against men is not unheard of, the consequences for a woman have proven much harsher than that of their male counterparts. Families often decide to take the life of that woman, in an effort to ‘restore the lost family honour’. This twisted concept is often referred to as an ‘honour killing’, which is realistically a murder, disguised as a mere expression of culture.

At this moment right now, there are the murderers of thousands of South Asian women walking free, with blood on their hands. Despite the verbal disapproval by some governments, little to no legislation is passed to protect and prevent women from being subjected to such violence. The spilt blood of those women died as a casualty to their own fate, were reduced to a matter of social status and were stripped of their right to life – and they won’t be the last.

Now, when it comes to explaining the origin of the severe discrimination against women, I often come across remarks concerning misplaced blame and anger, which includes the misconception that Islam is ‘inherently misogynistic’ and so, is responsible for cultivating and encouraging the suppression of women, within majority Muslim countries. However, being a follower of Islam and of South Asian descent, I can approve the ignorance of this allegation, since Islam not only condemns injustice towards women but has stood for women’s rights, since its inception.

“Lucky is the woman, whose first child is a daughter” – Prophet Muhammed (PBHU), al-Kafi, Vol. 2, pg. 6

And yet society teaches these people to mourn at this blessing.

“Act kindly towards women” – Prophet Muhammed (PBHU)

And yet society teaches these people that it is okay to enslave, ridicule and physically abuse women.

“Seeking knowledge is a duty on every Muslim (male and female)” – Hadith Ibn Majah

And yet society teaches these people that women’s education is forbidden in Islam.

“…it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion” – Quran, Surah An Nisa, [4:19]

And yet society teaches these people that a woman’s consent in marriage is unnecessary.

Islam liberates women, where culture and tradition otherwise oppress.

This is only an insight into the contradicting beliefs that are imposed and personally, I believe it is the harsh, male interpreted versions of Islam that has driven the fabrication of these beliefs. In turn, this has created a ‘tailored’ Islam to comply with their existent patriarchal views – which includes the justification of their privileges and positions of power.

Not only is this a result of misinterpretation, but I think it also comes down to a lack of knowledge. I cannot stress enough how the true, Islamic beliefs and values have evidently become diluted as they passed down from generation to generation. A lack of education and awareness has led to the poisoning, cultural entanglement with Islam, that has resulted in the inevitable outcome, that the South Asian communities reflect.

Unfortunately, the strength of this notion is engraved within the social belief system, that the communities so eagerly cling to. Maybe it’s those women who have silently accepted their circumstances in the past, who are partly responsible for the continuation of this oppression. Or it’s those men who utilise this conformity to justify their positions of control.

Or maybe this toxic conformity just proves how there’s strength in numbers. And if there’s strength for it, why can’t there be strength against it?

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