Introduction:
Everybody talks about the growing problem of domestic and sexual violence against women in Pakistan. But we hardly ever see people discussing the economic violence that women face more frequently. Economic violence is a form of violence and oppression against Pakistani women which is heavily veiled behind the mist of honour and izzat. These traditional concepts are weaponised by men in some families to keep women in control by controlling their finances under the cultural notions of masculinity. Unfortunately, even after many gender equality campaigns, this problem remains shrouded and deeply prevalent.
The good girl complex:
Under the cultural notions of femininity, Pakistan idolises the archetype of a “good girl” or “good woman”. Essentially, a woman who does not speak much and lets a man in her family control her finances by letting them provide for her and her children. While this might make the woman agreeable and easy to digest, it has detrimental impacts on the woman’s financial well-being by not only making her economically dependent on her husband or father, but also by destroying her sense of self and autonomy, as sometimes asking for extra funds can lead to taunting and insults by said male provider.
Permissible autonomy:
It is as normal as the day and as habitual as breathing that, before a woman goes out to work, she has to ask permission. Permission for being a person. Weeks of convincing to go out and make money for daily bread. It is so normal, in fact, that if a girl mentions she did not have to ask her father, brother, husband, or sometimes her mother if she could apply for a job, it is a shocking revelation to most of us. This problem stems from the stigma surrounding a female’s financial autonomy. Most people still believe that all a woman can do is cook and clean, and that her place is in the kitchen, in front of the burning stove. All that to say, permissible autonomy does not mean the door is locked; rather, it is when the door remains heavily guarded, with a long list of terms and conditions posted on both sides.
Deprivation of inheritance:
Across Pakistan, women are deprived of their inheritance in many ways under patriarchal norms. In some rural areas, the greed for inheritance becomes so extreme that it leads to families marrying off their daughters to the Holy Quran. A practice equally as heart-breaking as it is bizarre. Similarly, marriages to cousins or brothers-in-law also occur solely to prevent a woman from claiming her inheritance and a share of the family property. Furthermore, the lack of implementation of inheritance law also plays a crucial part in this issue, as most women stay unaware of their rights and even if they are aware, there is little to no help provided to such victims, trapping them in an endless cycle of poverty and economic dependence in the name of culture and honour.
The road to equality:
It would be horribly unfair to say that no effort has been made to achieve gender equality and to eradicate violence against women in Pakistan. However, no true progress can be made or achieved unless the mindsets of people are changed, as Pakistan still continues to cater to a patriarchal and male-dominated society. Moreover, it is essential for legal aid and the law to come into play, as, at the end of the day, the law can provide meaningful assistance to women whose lives are in grave danger, whether physical, psychological, or financial.