The time when patriarchal societies used to dictate to women is long gone. In the past, we witnessed how difficult it was for women to rule in a man’s world because of casual sexism. However, now things have changed. Women know how to stand up for themselves.
In honour of International Women’s Day, let’s rewind to the times when women leaders told the patriarchy to sit down and shut up.
1- First Muslim World Female Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
At the top of the list, we have former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who became the very first woman to hold the position in the Muslim world. At 35, she was also one of the youngest chief executives in the world. As prime minister, she was often referred to as the “Iron Lady of Pakistan” for her uncompromising approach to negotiating with unions. During her first tenure, she was removed by then-President Ghulam Ishaq Khan but was elected again by her people. She won the hearts of many with her courageous and empowering speeches at a time when politics were male-dominated and no one would have thought that Pakistan would elect a woman to lead the country.
2- Sherry Rehman at her wittiest best
If you want a guide or need tips on how to deal with the misogyny that exists even in Pakistan’s Senate, you need to watch Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman.
Last year, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani called Rehman the “Senate’s dadi (grandmother)”. To this, casual sexism, she responded by saying: “I would advise you to only ask specific questions so that Sherry Rehman, who is the dadi of this House, can give you the right answers.”
3- Take notes from Jacinda Ardern
In December, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern shut down a male journalist for asking a misogynist question when she was hosting Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
The journalist asked, “A lot of people will be wondering: ‘Are you two meeting just because you’re similar in age and have got a lot of common stuff there — when you got into politics and stuff — or can Kiwis actually expect to see more deals between our two countries down the line?”
Ardern interrupted the question to say that she wondered “Whether or not anyone ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were of similar age.”
Well, this is how you deal with misogyny!
4- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fires back
Now, we bring you US Congress Member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez excoriating her Republican colleague, Rep. Ted Yoho of Florida, after he verbally attacked her on the steps of the Capitol and used a sexist slur overheard by a reporter, calling her a “fucking bitch,” then issued a non-apology from the House floor. Later, on the floor, Alexandria said: “My mother got to see Mr. Yoho’s disrespect on the floor of this House towards me on television and I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter and that they did not raise me to accept abuse from men.”
5- Hina Rabbani’s bold move
Last year in November, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar went to meet the Taliban government in Afghanistan which is famously notorious for its mistreatment of women and its denial of women’s rights. The arrival of a woman to hold talks with the government proved to be such a powerful move. Netizens couldn’t help but root for Khar, deeming it a boss move to have a woman represent Pakistan, especially before a government as stuck in the stone age as the Taliban.
