Women's Auxiliary

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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What are your expectations of a women’s auxiliary wing lof a political party?
What if this wing is an international chapter?

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re: Women's Auxiliary

what are the women's expectations?

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re: Women's Auxiliary

the standard stuff.....

women's rights in Pakistan.
representation.
domestic violence.

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re: Women's Auxiliary

those are good expectations. my expectation is that they are effective at their activism.

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re: Women's Auxiliary

and what would you term as being effective in their activism?

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re: Women's Auxiliary

a measurable change in policy or circumstances as a direct consequence of their activism

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re: Women's Auxiliary

interesting.....reasonable expectation but how would you expect the international chapter to influence policy in Pakistan? (other than lobbying, of course)

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re: Women's Auxiliary

The main aim should be education and the economic empowerment of women. Once women have wealth, everything else will follow.

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re: Women's Auxiliary

wish i knew how!

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re: Women's Auxiliary

Excellent suggestion......this is the kind of feedback that I need.
More please!!!!

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re: Women's Auxiliary

Another tool to make people fool.

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re: Women’s Auxiliary

Stop discussing sammiches :emmy:

What would be the qualifications for a woman to join the party? Not just in terms of education but circle of influence, philathropic efforts and such. An international chapter may be more effective due to reasons I just mentioned as women abroad are better equipped with resources and more importantly the willingness and environment to go out and make a difference.

The goals of this party should be:

  1. Education for women/ financial independence
  2. Birth control
  3. Religious rights awareness
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re: Women’s Auxiliary

wonderful…now we’re talking.
how would you propose that the group go about making this happen from afar?

p.s. sammiches are gone.

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re: Women's Auxiliary

Does the Women's Auxillary set or influence the mandate and party platform of the national political party or is just a chapter whose purpose is to network and drum up support (primarily financial)?

If it's the first option, then

  • education (access and quality, not just limited to women and girls but for all)
  • affirmative action (yes this is not a popular cause, but may be the best way to accelerate women's representation in government and industry)
  • domestic violence was mentioned above and this is a biggie
  • reformation of the judicial system (access and efficiency)
  • monetary policy/fiscal policy as it impacts economic growth and goes hand in hand with economic empowerment of women
  • social programs that allow the worst off in society to better their circumstances - a maasi should not raise her daughters to be maasis when they grow up
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re: Women's Auxiliary

Why should the women's wing be distinct from the main wing? Things like women's right, represnetation, domestic violence should be part of the agenda of the party as a whole.

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re: Women's Auxiliary

It should be part of party's agenda though women wing just carries out that agenda more effectively as they can talk to women of the community is more friendlier atmosphere than a guy from that party can.

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Re: Women's Auxiliary

Agree with Mad_scientist.

So men cannot be feminists? Both men and women can be the good feminists.

I mean in the positive feminist way, not about those who just exploit women and try to be 'politically correct' to look good in media.

Let's face it so far no so called women lib organization has acheived any good or better life for women be it so called east or west.

The question now comes. Should it not even be tried?

Sure.

But not the way it has been proposed or done.

Agencies or political parties practically do not achieve anything and will not be in future.

Direct help through non-political (without any other motive), locally based and non-profit proganizations generally helping people regarless of gender have acheived much more than so called these women saviour and fighter organizations.

The moment these organizations become political or 'international' they become destined to lose. A local woman with domestic problem will still be abused regardless of these fake organizations.

This kind of rhetoric has not proven to help oppressed women anywhere.

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Re: Women's Auxiliary

In political set ups where there is no gender equality the woman's wing provide a platform to discuss women issues. And in Pakistan there is no gender equality or equity. The Women groups provide the platform for educating other women on their rights as well as their education and empowerment. There is a distinct need for it. Consider it a la 1920s womens movement in the US.

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Re: Women's Auxiliary

This will be a detailed response , so please bear with me.

International support teams of a political party will never serve a rightful purpose unless they make positive contributions to the government policy making and its implementation. for that , the party members will have to work extensively in the motherland , to ensure their own political education and learning ways to effectively implement the values they stand for.

My first expectation of a women's auxiliary offshore , would be to engage those ladies who are willing to travel and work in the motherland for a few months every now and then. This will require immense sacrifice , but without it , there is no point of them representing a political party.

My Second expecation is the use of resources ... There are 100's of charities operating in Pakistan , working on women's rights. I will expect the Women's Auxiliary ( WA ) leadership to meet with the leading charities and organizations and shortlist the ones that are genuinely working towards achieving success in this area. Then help them plan activities and reach wider areas and serve on more varied fronts.

The sort of work that I would expect WA to carry out in Pakistan:
- Have a strong influence on the policymaking in Pakistan.
- Make Government regulation bodies for Government Schools. A lady should only be allowed to teach if she passes a certain criteria, unlike now where any aeri geri has become a teacher!
- Influence the education syllabus and bring it upto date with modern times.
- Create Charities and bodies that encourage stay home ladies to come out and mingle with each other and get awareness of how a mother can influence a child's future , make them a law abiding, educated, successful, strong charactered individuals.
- Help women in establishing small scale businesses. Help them network and make way to a successful future.
-Long ago I was associated with a charity, whose sole purpose was to introduce very reserved /uneducated ladies to the modern culture. That would positively influence them to look after themselves and their families in a modern way. They were taught how to dress better, cook better, teach their kids better, basic nursing and first aid skills, communication skills, money management skills , social services etc ... We need similar charities in Pakistan.

International teams that are associated with National Political Parties , can strongly bridge the gap by passing on their knowledge and skills to the ladies back home. They can surely add alot of value, though I will admit , their job can be much harder then those who are operating within the motherland. Most such teams end up turning into mere fundraising teams ... My expectation would be to focus equally on delivering value rather then just fundraising.

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Re: Women's Auxiliary

Aimee,
Thank you for the detailed and comprehensive response. You have definitely touched upon some of the topics that came to my mind.
I will come back with additional comments later.