Latent Gender Discrimination in a Pakistani Text Book

The stereotypical images of gender are substantiated by gender discrimination without any adequate regard to differences between sex and gender. Sex is biological whereas gender is a social construct. In Feminism, Philosophy and Education it says that,

“We both see gender as a construction; and we think of the multiple meanings gender has taken on or been given over the centuries.”

(Maxine Greene and Morwenna Griffiths, Feminism, Philosophy and Education: Imagining Public Spheres, pg. 75)

Gender discrimination is prevalent in Pakistan. In his article in The News on July 27, 2002, Rasul Baksh Rais said this about the questions of gender discrimination,

“These questions have been a subject of many theories, conjecturing and sociological explanations in different countries. Many of the factors that work against equality of women in both developed and developing countries are more deeply ingrained in Pakistani society. Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, has attempted to explain low participation of women in politics with reference to four hypothetical constraints — physiological constraints; cultural constraints; role constraints; and male conspiracy”
( Rasul Baksh Rais, Gendered Discrimination)

Tragically discrimination based on gender also takes place in the field of education. In the article by Waqar Gillani published in the Daily Times where he interviews Dr Rubina Saigol the following analysis is presented,

“She said as long as Pakistan’s ideology is religious nationalism, democracy cannot flourish. “How can democracy be possible when half the population is not considered equal to the other half, legally, economically and socially? Is democracy possible given the kind of nationalism that dictates the primacy of religion, which is interpreted as having institutionalized gender inequality?” She said education is meant to be a progressive force, but in Pakistan curricula and textbooks had to be rid of gender discrimination before this could be possible.
(Waqar Gillani, Daily Times, Gender Discrimination in Curriculum Must Go)

It was important to look at gender discrimination in the nation of Pakistan before conducting the exhaustive analysis of the textbook. While doing so it is important to note that the textbook in of itself does not blatantly discriminate on the basis of gender significantly. However, what is more important to note is the fact that the text book substantiates the notion of gender prevalent in society to the new generation. Education is the primary way to form the consciousness of the generation and with such perpetuation of certain ideologies about gender through these textbooks is a dangerous tool. It cannot be argued whether the authors of the textbook have made a conscious decision to promote such notions or it is simply a result of their own internalization of gender identities by society.