Aurat March

The Aurat March (Urdu: عورت مارچ‎ lit. 'Women's March'; Dēvanāgarī: औरत मार्च ) is an annual socio-political demonstration held in various Pakistani cities, including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Peshawar, to commemorate International Women's Day.

Initiated in 2018 in Karachi, the first Aurat Marches emerged alongside the Pakistani #MeToo movement. Subsequent marches took place in 2019 in Lahore and Karachi, organised by groups such as Hum Auratein (or hama Auratēṁ हम औरतें) and other organisations like the Women Democratic Front (WDF) and the Women's Action Forum (WAF). The initiative received support from the Lady Health Workers Association and included participation from multiple women's rights organisations.

The march advocates for increased accountability regarding violence against women and aims to support those who face violence and harassment from security forces, in public spaces, at home, and in workplaces. Participants, both women and men, carry posters featuring slogans such as "Ghar ka Kaam, Sab ka Kaam" ("Housework is everyone's work") and "Mera Jism Meri Marzi" ("My body, my choice"), which have become powerful rallying cries for gender equality and women's rights in Pakistan.

Themes

Zuneera Shah highlights that the etymology of the word "aurat" carries misogynistic connotations and has controversial roots in Arabic, which has led many Indian, Iranian, and Arab feminists to view the term as problematic. She argues that Western dominance in feminist discourse has fostered a negative perception of the movement in countries like Pakistan. For activists from the Indin subcontinent, localising the struggle for women's rights is essential, as it allows for the incorporation of culturally relevant concepts. Shah notes that the Aurat March has facilitated broader discussions around issues such as "pidar shahi" (patriarchy पितृसत्ता).

The theme of the 2018 Aurat March was "Equality", while the 2019 march focused on "Sisterhood and Solidarity". Nighat Dad emphasized that the agenda for these marches aimed to demand resources and dignity for women, the transgender community, religious minorities, and economically marginalized groups. She asserted that women's emancipation is intrinsically linked to the advancement of all mistreated groups and minorities. The themes for the 2020 march included "khudmukhtari" (autonomy स्वायत्तता) and issues related to violence, sexual harassment, and economic disparities.

Marches in the year 2018 and 2019

Marchers in 2019

At the Aurat March, hundreds of signs emphasised fundamental rights such as access to education and employment. The slogan "Mera Jism Meri Marzi" (My body, my choice) emerged as the most recognized phrase associated with the event. Other notable slogans included "Why are you afraid of my self-determination?", "A woman's right to autonomy over her own body", and "In fact, everyone should get to decide for themselves what happens to their body."

During the 2018 march, participants displayed various slogans such as "Our rights are not up for grabs and neither are we," "Girls just wanna have fundamental human rights," "Transwomen are women; shut up!", "Tu kare to Stud, Main Karun to slut" ("If you do it you're a stud, but if I do it I'm a slut"), "Safe-street program for women," "Stop being menstrual-phobic," "Consent ki Tasbeeh Rozana Parhen" ("Ask for consent every time"), and "Paratha rolls, not gender roles."

In March 2019, new signs appeared with messages like "Jab tak aurat tang rahegi, jang rahegi, jang rahegi" ("As long as women are restricted, war will persist, war will persist"), "Men of quality will never be afraid of equality," and "Keep your dick pics to yourself." Some signs featured provocative imagery, such as a drawing of a vagina and two ovaries with the slogan "Grow a pair!" Other slogans included "If you like the headscarf so much, tie it around your eyes"; a girl sitting with her legs spread with the message "Lo Beth Gayi Sahi Se" ("Here, I'm sitting correctly"), and "Nazar teri gandi aur purdah main karun" ("Your gaze is filthy, yet I'm the one who has to veil?").

Additionally, a sign reading "Aaj waqai maa behn ek ho rahi hain" depicted unity among women, while another suggested that some people view all independent women as tawaifs (courtesans). Other impactful messages included "My shirt is not short, it's your mindset that is narrow," "Oh, I am sorry. Does this hurt your male ego?", and "These are my streets too," asserting women's right to public spaces.

In her article, Ailia Zehra examines a sign that reads: "If Cynthia does it, she's applauded. If I do it, I'm the villain." This reference pertains to Cynthia D. Ritchie, an American residing in Pakistan, who posted a photo of herself riding a bicycle to encourage women to engage with public spaces, seemingly unaware of her privileged status as a white woman.

Nighat Dad, one of the organizers of the women's march in Lahore, noted that the backlash against the posters stemmed from the fact that many Pakistanis—particularly men—are not yet ready to accept the marchers' freedom of choice. She highlighted that discussions surrounding women's sexuality and their rights over their own bodies are being initiated for the first time due to the march. However, she also pointed out that online harassment has escalated, with organizers and participants facing death and rape threats.

Nisha Susan commented on the slogan "Lo Baith Gayi Theek Se" ("Here, I'm sitting correctly"), clarifying that it is not about "woman-spreading" but rather a response to the ongoing policing of women's bodies.

Opponents of the march labeled the participants as "vulgar" opportunists who have violated conservative Pakistani values and exchanged a genuine struggle for rights with an anti-Islamic agenda. Feminist writer Sadia Khatri addressed this narrative, noting that posters advocating for education, inheritance, and marital rights often receive less attention than more sensational claims. She argued that feminism based on respectability is not true feminism, emphasising that gatekeeping within the movement only perpetuates oppression.

In her article "Womansplaining the Aurat March: Dear men, here's why Pakistan's women are asserting their rights", Rimmel Mohydin addresses men with a cheeky remark: "Smile, you'll look prettier that way." She points out that while women often endure sexist jokes, any attempt they make to retaliate with humor is deemed offensive. Mohydin asserts, "Each witty remark, each clever slogan, conceals years of unspoken suffering that women have endured." For instance, a woman might tell a man that she won't warm his bed unless he heats his own food, but what truly irks men is the notion that she could find humor at their expense.

She further observes, "It’s challenging to find your footing when the backs you've been walking on begin to stand tall. This is likely why the author feels sympathy for misogynistic politicians." Referencing the slogan "Keep your dick pics to yourself," Mohydin argues that what truly disturbs men is the disruption of their fantasy in which women supposedly welcome unsolicited images of male genitalia. The sender faces no backlash, yet the reluctant recipient is blamed. If she appreciates it, she's labeled a 'slut'; if she doesn’t, she offends them. Thus, women are left with no winning scenario.

Mohydin questions whether men are distressed by the loss of their ability to arouse women with such images. Are they feeling insecure because of the protesting women? Instead of using the placards as an opportunity for self-reflection, many have chosen to react defensively. They overlook the real issues: the violence against women, acid attacks, lack of representation, inadequate housing, moral policing of women's choices and bodies, denial of education, threats of sexual harassment, societal structures that limit women's potential, exploitation, objectification, and the harsh reality that for many, women are still not regarded as fully human.

The 2019 March was followed by a wave of cyberbullying directed at the participants. Slogans displayed on placards were manipulated and replaced with provocative statements to tarnish the movement and its objectives. According to an article by Zuneera Shah, many attendees experienced significant cyber harassment after the event, including violent threats that incited violence and rape against them. One marcher’s face and placard were shown without their consent on national television during a segment that aimed to defame the Aurat March, which aired on HumTV, one of the leading channels in the country. An organiser of Aurat March Lahore remarked, "No amount of backlash can take away the magic that happens on that day. It fuels us all for the entire year."

Film star Shaan Shahid tweeted that the posters did not reflect Pakistani culture or values. He faced criticism for his films, which often sexualise women and reduce them to mere props that underscore his character's masculinity, yet he defended his stance as a matter of freedom of expression. Actress Veena Malik also drew ire for tweeting that the march had "brought humiliation to [the] women of Pakistan". Poet Kishwar Naheed stated in a video, "The next time you create such slogans, remember your culture, your traditions".

Social media trends

A prominent social-media hashtag from the 2018 march was #KhaanaKhudGaramKarLo (#HeatYourOwnMeal). The 2019 march featured the hashtag #WhyIMarch, with numerous celebrities, human-rights activists, and others sharing their personal stories under the hashtags #HumAurtein, #auratmarch, #AuratMarch2019, and #JaggaDein. In the lead-up to the 2020 march, the hashtags #AuratMarch2020 and #MeraJismMeriMarzi gained traction on social media.

Read also

• MeToo movement in Pakistan