It’s been a depressing couple of weeks – there are no two ways about it. From the opposition to the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2021, to the shocking number of rape, assault, and harassment cases in the past two weeks alone, Pakistani women have found themselves spiraling into a pit of despair.

Amidst all this, Amna Baig, fondly referred to as Amna Appi shared the following tweet

This was met with the question, ‘What would women do without men?’

There are many obvious answers to this, and the fact that this was posed as a question goes to show how some Pakistani men simply don’t understand the kind of threat they pose. Of course, we can get into the whole, ‘men-aren’t-the-problem-patriarchy-is’ and ‘not-all-men’ aspect of things, but let’s center this around women.

Men have, after all, had the stage for far too long.

Women took to share their take of what they could do if men weren’t around, and it’s all kinds of heartbreaking.

https://twitter.com/DarkKnightCares/status/1413050176512483336?s=20

 

 

It’s not surprising that women would list a plethora of things they’d do if the fear of men wasn’t holding them back. What is heartbreaking is how these are basic things, like being able to walk around freely, or simply existing. The fact that we don’t already have this, in 2021, is beyond comprehension.

Within that same vein, more and more women (and even men) came forward to share their thoughts

 

 

https://twitter.com/esotericroman/status/1413034043126566914?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/asterorchidiris/status/1412858253051056134?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/ihatemywujood/status/1412841532231667716?s=20

 

https://twitter.com/ihatemywujood/status/1412840381750841348?s=20

There is so much labor that goes into simply existing as a woman. Perhaps, most men don’t understand. Maybe because they don’t need to, or because the status quo favors many of them. However, simple acts that men take for granted, like sitting at a dhaaba drinking chai without being ogled at, or traveling without being groped or harassed, are mere pipe dreams for women.

What about that doesn’t sound alarms?

https://twitter.com/la_vie_en_toast/status/1412836782530519044?s=20

As one Twitter user pointed out, men could also benefit from the crumbling of patriarchal structures that lead to toxic masculinity

There are tales of pain in every woman around us. From a very young age, we’ve had to face abuse or harassment in some form or another, to the point where we wonder if our pain is valid and is worth talking about, because someone else has it worse. But our pain is valid, and it is real. Flimsy laws and men of power can’t change that reality.

They can ignore it, but they can’t change it.

What are your thoughts on this? Share them below in the comments.

 

Women Shared Their Everyday Experiences That Reveal How Shockingly Unsafe They Are

 

Cover image via images.dawn.com