Culture Shock: What Women in the West Don’t Know About the East
While your knowledge of women in the West may be sufficient, it may be inadequate when it comes to understanding women in the East. The societal differences between the two regions, especially with regard to women, are substantial. In fact, what I am about to explain may present a completely novel world to Western women. I acknowledge that this topic is multifaceted and demands a thorough and nuanced discussion, but in this brief overview, I will touch upon some key issues.
Gender Roles and Expectations:
Women in the East want to participate in society just like men. In urban areas, the status and role of women are becoming better, and they are working, getting jobs, and pursuing higher education. However, their roles have limitations. In rural areas, women live in a society that is centuries behind, facing all sorts of problems.
Cultural Traditions and Religious Practices:
The biggest contributor to the misery of Eastern women is religion and cultural traditions. Domestic violence is a significant problem, with women being the most common victims. Domestic violence can take many forms, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Although laws have been introduced to protect women from domestic violence, implementation and enforcement of these laws remain a challenge.
There are also instances of honor killings, where women are killed by their family members for allegedly bringing shame or dishonor to the family. Honor killings continue to occur in certain communities, without any distinction between rural or urban areas.
Female infanticide and feticide: This practice involves the selective abortion of female fetuses or the killing of newborn baby girls. It is often driven by a preference for male children and a desire to avoid the costs associated with raising daughters. Although this practice is becoming rare, it still occurs in rural areas.
Acid Attacks: This involves the throwing of acid on a person, often a woman, with the intent to disfigure or kill them. Acid attacks are often linked to domestic violence, revenge, and other forms of violence against women.
Bride Burning: This involves setting a woman on fire, often by her husband or his family members, usually due to disputes over dowry or other marital issues. Bride burning is a form of dowry death and is a serious problem in some parts of India.
Forced Sterilization: This practice involves the forced or coerced sterilization of women, often as part of a population control program. This practice has been criticized for its violation of women’s reproductive rights and its potential for abuse.
Witch-hunting: This involves the accusation and persecution of women as witches, often resulting in their torture and death. Witch-hunting is often linked to superstition and beliefs in witchcraft and is a serious problem in some parts of India.
Marriage and Family:
child marriage, which is still prevalent, particularly in rural areas. Child marriage involves the marriage of girls below the age of 18, often before they have reached puberty. This practice has serious consequences for the health and well-being of young girls, including increased risk of maternal mortality, early pregnancy, and limited opportunities for education and economic empowerment.
Vani and Karo marriages are harmful traditional practices that are still practiced in some parts of Pakistan, particularly in rural areas.
In Vani marriages, a young girl is given in marriage to settle a dispute between families. In Karo marriages, a man is given in marriage to settle a dispute between families. Both practices are onsidered a violation of human rights and have been declared illegal under Pakistani law.
Marriages with the Quran, also known as Haq Bakshish marriages, are another harmful practice in which a girl is married to the Quran in order to avoid marriage with a man. This practice is not recognized under law, but it still occurs in some parts.
Another harmful practice is dowry, which involves the payment of money or gifts from the bride’s family to the groom’s family as part of the marriage arrangement. This practice has been illegal in India since 1961, but it is still prevalent in some parts of the country and has been linked to incidents of domestic violence and even murder.
Divorce issues are also a major concern for women in Pakistan, as they often face difficulties in obtaining a divorce. In some cases, women are not allowed to divorce (Khula) their husbands without their consent, and the process can be expensive and time-consuming. Women who do obtain a divorce may face social stigma and discrimination, making it difficult for them to move on with their lives
Limited access to education
In some countries, girls are not allowed to attend school at all, particularly in areas controlled by extremist groups such as the Taliban.
Even in areas where education is available, girls may be forced to drop out early due to early marriage or other social pressures.
The quality of education available to girls may also be lower than that available to boys, particularly in rural areas.
Employment:
In addition to legal discrimination, women in the Middle East also face cultural and social barriers to employment. Women are often expected to prioritize their roles as wives and mothers over their careers.
Some jobs may also be off-limits to women, particularly in male-dominated fields such as engineering or politics.
Women who do work outside the home may face harassment or discrimination from male colleagues or customers.
Restrictions on mobility:
In addition to restrictions on driving and dress codes, women may also be restricted from traveling or leaving the home without a male escort.
These restrictions can limit women’s ability to access education, employment, and healthcare, as well as their ability to participate in public life.
Limited political representation:
In many Middle Eastern countries, women hold a small percentage of seats in parliament or other decision-making bodies.
Women may also face cultural barriers to running for office or engaging in political activism.
Sexual Assaults
Western women face sexual assault, and Eastern women face various types of sexual assaults that Western women may not even imagine.
Women are being discouraged from reporting incidents or seeking support.
In addition, women who experience sexual assault and harassment have far less legal protection than their Western counterparts.
Despite sympathizing with the victim, the woman is often blamed, and the society does not accept the victim as normal, resulting in incidents not being reported.
Marital rape is also prevalent, where a woman is declared bound against the sexual desire of her husband in Islam, whether she is willing or not.
In the past, the rare and heinous crime of raping a woman’s corpse has been reported in Pakistan.
The Silent but Steady Struggle:
Efforts to address these practices require a comprehensive approach that involves education, advocacy, and legal reform to promote gender equality and empower women to live their lives free from violence and discrimination. It requires sustained effort and a multi-faceted approach though.
Let’s take a step towards a more equitable world by educating ourselves and others, supporting organizations working towards gender equality, and speaking out against discrimination and violence against women.
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Note: Geographically, the term 'the East' is often used to refer to Asia, including countries such as China, Japan, Korea, and India, as well as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. As I am from South Asia (Pakistan), this article focuses on Pakistan, India, neighboring countries, and the Middle East
