Sisters In Solidarity

Reflections On Aurat March And Struggle For Reconciliation Between Feminism And Society

Abstract

This paper evaluates how feminism in modern-day Pakistan has been curtailed from its inception to contemporary times. It analyzes the origins of feminism and contemporary feminism that have raised awareness regarding many prejudiced notions in the patriarchal structure within Pakistan. Qualitative, multilingual, semi-structured interviews were conducted via cell phone to collect research data. The interviews took about 20-30 minutes in duration. The interviewees were asked about their interactions with the March, how it resonated with them, and how they felt expressing themselves in a men-dominated space. This article concludes with a discussion of the tactical and strategic effects of the Aurat March after its organization and its role in the overall landscape of national social movements. The research has highlighted the contextual differences between Western feminism and women’s rights laws in a local religio-cultural backdrop. These findings have implications for understanding contemporary feminist scholarship in Pakistan.