Strategies of women’s movements to counter backlashes in Pakistan: a case study of Aurat March

Mazhar Abbas, Samee Lashari and Imran Wakil

Third World Quarterly, 2025, vol. 46, issue 10, 1112-1135

Abstract: Aurat March, shaped by both local and global influences – including the current landscape of women’s rights and the movements such as the #MeToo – seeks to challenge patriarchal structures by redefining traditional gender roles, critiquing institutions like marriage and family, and addressing issues related to bodily autonomy and sexuality, including topics such as rape, pornography, and prostitution. The March has adopted and implemented various practical strategies in response to the significant backlash from patriarchal forces. This study explores these backlashes and strategies through qualitative content analysis, drawing on archival research and in-depth semi-structured interviews with supporters and critics of Aurat March. Findings reveal that the ­utilisation of social media, the deconstruction of public-private and ­productive-reproductive binaries, and the transition of discussions regarding bodily rights and sexual autonomy from private to public spheres are key strategies employed by Aurat March to confront the backlash it has received from patriarchal figures, including media representatives, religious circles, and state authorities. This contributes to the discourse on reconceptualising activism in Pakistan and the Global South, particularly about the tactics and strategies adopted by women’s movements to navigate these challenges.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2025.2543919

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