Women’s Rights

‘Women’s rights in Pakistan’ is a big question often raised in the West. It is believed that women has no rights or privileges in the male dominated society of Pakistan. Before discussing whether women have rights in Pakistani society or not, first understand Pakistani society. Pakistan is an Islamic state, where people, not only take pride in strictly adhering to the Islamic values but are ready to sacrifice their loved belongings for the glory and sanctity of Islam. Islam has accorded a highly venerated social position to women. Islam acknowledges the rights and privileges of the women in society. Likewise, Islam does not impose any restrictions that may hamper the social growth and development of the woman. A woman is equally important member of society. The woman plays a vital role in building the society on healthier and stronger foundations.

The women in Pakistan have been constantly complaining of having being isolated from the mainstream of society. Women feel disillusioned on being maltreated by the male-oriented set up in Pakistan. They strongly claim that if they are given a chance, they can contribute more positively towards the development of all social aspects. However the Pakistani society usually adopts a hostile attitude towards the women. Their development in society is hindered due to many factors. Particularly the rural woman has to sustain, sometimes, unbearable dominance by the other sections of society. Numerically the women in Pakistan are almost equal to men. They are equal in potential as the men. The Pakistani women live in the most diversified location of the tribal, feudal or urban environments. She can be a highly qualified and self-confident professional or a diffident peasant toiling along with her men-folk.

The Suffragettes

Increasingly, women recognized that campaigning was limited whilst women could not make their voices heard directly. The vote took 70 years to gain. It was not until 1928 that all women – not just those over 30 and of the right property qualifications – could legally vote. Despite arguments that women should accept merely local suffrage, or universal male suffrage, or limited suffrage, the suffragettes persevered. The rise of the Militant suffragettes and the contribution of a mass of women workers during war time pressurized the Government to grant limited suffrage. Now it is debatable as to how much impact the vote has actually had in campaigning for women’s rights.

A Brief History of Women’s Rights in the United States

In the early history of the United States, the right to vote was associated with property owners. It was believed that property owners had the strongest interest in good government and were therefore best qualified to make those decisions. However, since women were not allowed to own property, this excluded them from all voting rights.

Since the early days of the United States, women had been fighting to rectify this wrong and to have the same rights in society as men. During the 19th century, many pioneers of the women’s suffrage movement spoke out strongly to gain support for giving equal rights to women. Two of these pioneers were Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton who founded the all-female National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869. The object of the foundation was to secure a constitutional amendment that allowed women the right to vote. The organization eventually merged with another women’s rights organization called the American Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association or NAWSA.

The biggest catalyst for change turned out to be World War I. At the time the President of the United States was Woodrow Wilson. At one point he announced in a speech that World War I was a war for democracy, which had the women of the United States up in arms. They questioned that if it was Wilson’s sincere desire to further the democratic rights of all people, why did he oppose the national enfranchisement of women. In January 1918 Wilson made a pro-suffrage speech to accede to the protesting women. It was the final push that women needed. Only a year later Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, giving women the right to vote.

Demure Lady LLC is an online supplier of all types of feminine products and their goal is discreet personal shopping for feminine products. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.