CultureVulture
At a recent discussion organized by the People’s Solidarity Forum in Lahore, speakers examined structures that allow misogyny to flourish.
Lahore: This past week, judges sat together in room number one of the Supreme Court to deliver a highly anticipated verdict that marked a significant change in Pakistan’s political and historical course.
On the same day another discussion took place, also behind closed doors but one that discussed the experiences of more than half the world’s population, not just Pakistanis. The discussion was titled: Summer Colloquies: Unpacking Feminism.
Organized by the People’s Solidarity Forum at Books n Beans in Lahore, Philosophy professor and speaker for the day, Shehzad Amjad was introduced to the audience by journalist Aima Khosa. This particular session examined structures that allow misogyny to flourish and what the French philosopher Simone de Beauviour wrote about it.
In a nutshell, she started out by contesting the idea of a woman and then the very idea of a human. She then moved on to the idea of ‘self and the other’ and how things cannot move forward until we see ourselves as a ‘we’.
Amjad started the session by bringing up Beauviour and adding that she was controversial because, “if what you say doesn’t spark controversy and a dialectical viewpoint then have you even said anything?”.
He referenced that her book The Second Sex is a foundation text for contemporary feminism and quoted a line: “one is not born a woman; one becomes a woman” which resonated well with the audience.
In talking about structures that oppress women, he talked about how Simone fundamentally challenged the very idea of a woman on a deeper level. Throughout their lives, women are taught to behave and think according to the generally acceptable norms concerning women. These so-called feminine characteristics taught to women are neither dictated by hormones nor determined by their biology. Hence, feminism is only meant to be an eye opener for women about what they are capable of doing if they put socio-political constructions aside.
He added that for a man to define himself as a man, it is absolutely necessary for him on a subconscious level if not in a deliberate political, social sense to define a woman - that is how he will define his masculinity.
In its most crude, blasé form patriarchy is the notion that a woman is inferior to a man and nature has made her that way. Beauviour writes that when she existentially deconstructs the experience of a woman, she realizes that her sensibilities, mind, body, thoughts have been manufactured in an ideological system of domination. The very idea of a woman is constructed and her existential duality comes from what she really is and what socio-political pressures have created.
In today’s society it is evident that mankind has progressed in leaps and bounds but the state of women is still abysmal. What is encouraging though is that there is at least dialogue, more so than ever before.
The People Solidarity Forum revealed that when they started their talks last year there were merely a handful of people but their numbers have grown rapidly. Even in a society like Pakistan, where patriarchy is firmly entrenched in our culture and tradition, the discussions gaining momentum is heartening. Things will not become better overnight, but drawing room conversations that become organized discussions have the power to change our reality. Room one of the Supreme Court held the nation’s interest for the same reason recently.