Considering the socio-political dynamics of our society in which we were raised, I’m convinced that it is very unlikely for the young aspirant women like us in their thirties even to run for office or it might be a stroke of luck that someone without any political background gets elected because of their political struggle.
2. How many of us have ever thought through to run for an
election campaign or run for the office?
It is rare in the societies where democratic seats are gifted to the
generations while political space shrinks for the women in general.
This is not only because we have some people who would not
allow aspirant women to enter into political mainstream but also
because of grass-root systematic inaccuracies that have been
indoctrinated into our system from the beginning that it doesn’t
allow women to grow in that way. Let me explain how!
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3. We grew up listening to our elders and people around complaining
about the politicians’ attitude, performance, and voters’ rights
without knowing the limitations of those politicians. Our
educational system didn’t support “social-activism” till we reached
university where a two months internship was meant to teach us
all social activism and political understanding related to community
work, people engagement, and social consistency. In the
meantime, we were awarded different names had anyone of us
started doing anything on their own in our late adulthood. So the
spirit evaporated slowly and gradually.
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4. Considering the socio-political dynamics of our society in
which we were raised, I’m convinced that it is very unlikely
for the young aspirant women like us in their thirties even
to run for office or it might be a stroke of luck that
someone without any political background gets elected
because of their political struggle.
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5. However, hope has yet its roots grounded! In maybe thirty years
from now with some utmost strategic and systematic changes in
educational, social and political domains of this country (which are
already in progress), there may be chances that young and
aspirant women of this country might run for an electoral office on
the general seat and may win the seat too. These three domains
are important to discuss as they are the cornerstone of a
democratic, inclusive, and prosperous society. Economic
independence of the women outstrips all.
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6. Educational changes are required at all stages as I mentioned earlier
that the structural inequalities in our system do not allow more than
half of the girls grow up educationally in a manner that they can
understand the significance of their participation in the political
process (whatever stage it is – for some even a basic understanding of
casting their vote should be taken into consideration in political
debates). An education revolution with a curriculum design airing
political will amongst the women and men equally is most needed in
this country. Democratic values should be institutionalized rather than
provoking hatred through different means against political parties and
political workers especially through using multifaceted media.
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7. Social activism is likely to contribute to the development of a
society where democratically elected candidates aspire to serve
people who have elected them using the right vote. However, this
doesn’t fall from heaven but one has to practice it. Given the
history of Pakistan, we are socially and politically active only when
we are struck by political unrest, humanitarian crisis, and any
emergency. On the other hand, philanthropy is associated with rich
only, and social development is propelled into the hands of non-
profit organizations while they face backlash from state institutions
too.
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8. This needs to be embedded through educational measures either
through academic uplift, students’ engagement with vulnerable
communities in the beginning and linking it to political education.
Considering the progress, new and educated names in the
provincial assemblies, women share in political mainstream
although, with the quota system, there will be a time when women
will lead the houses as in Pakistan what constitutes a democratic
system is a political engagement of women across the board. The
political process does not only entail running for an elected office
but the dotted links which contribute to a healthy democracy.
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9. Women need to join the political sphere through those dotted links and we
know “Future is for women who commit to aspire with not only their words
but their political will.”
Contributed by: Munazza Farooq
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