We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, the political and public playing field needs to be cleansed of sexist remarks – do Pakistani public figures need a masterclass in public speaking?
The recent remark by Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Khan Gandapur not only revealed his personal views but also highlighted the wider problem of misogyny and gender roles in Pakistan, especially in the political and public arena. His comment on Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz’s appearance in a police uniform, “She does so many things. Tomorrow you will ask me to do the same,” along with a head tilt and grin, was telling. And not in a good way.
Here’s what went down when a reporter asked him about Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz donning a police uniform for a public event.
Now the problem, we’d like to point out, is not only in the response given by the Chief Minister KPK, but also in the question asked by the reporter. Pakistani media is not new to the erratic, unfiltered and often loosely offered comments by certain members of the public and political arena, so when these people are asked click-bait questions, it is obviously with an intention that they will play up to the media circus and give a response that will, most likely, go viral, for all the wrong reasons.
Hence, while many netizens are busy, and rightly so, in criticizing the KPK minister’s irresponsible comments, we must also call out the level of journalism and line of questioning that encourages such public personas to let loose their inner misogyny and reply in a manner that is, to say the least, not fitting for any acting or non acting member of a government that struggles hard to be taken seriously, especially in light of women’s issues, rights, and … need we say the golden word, feminism? To further the argument, female public figures have often also been guilty of employing language and terminology that is questionable to be used on public forums.
Have our political and public debates slipped into a state of perpetual sexist, irresponsible one-upmanship commentary? Do our forums now only elicit “news” when it makes headlines due to some popular figure calling out another with personal, tasteless remarks that elicit nervous laughter from a crowd of onlookers? (Who never really know if they’re laughing at the right moment or not)!
Onwards to the basic ethics and ground rules on how to address your political opponents, male or female, is another conversation indeed. Pakistani female politicians and public figures have been subjected to, either by being singled out, or as an entire gender, careless and offensive remarks which, most often, the male offender brushes off as a joke, or a misinterpretation. Similarly, female politicians have also been guilty of throwing below the belt remarks at male political and public figures, generally reducing the level of political commentary to a level which no Pakistani citizen can justly respect or admire in a sober, politically mature atmosphere. Such cryptic remarks are becoming the order of the day and the fact that the minister’s remarks were met by laughter from the accompanying audience present, just goes to show how our male politicians and public figures receive positive reinforcement from their fans and audiences to carry on the misogyny, gender bias and sexist remarks. They are, unfortunately, given the impression by members of the public that their mindset and “witty” comebacks are indeed, funny!
Which brings us to our final wrap – do Pakistani politicians and public figures, belonging to any and all walks of life, be they politicians, media persons asking the questions, or actors, male or female, need a masterclass in public speaking?
After all, being politically correct should be a skill politicians need to teach, not be schooled in? Let Us know what you think in comments below!
