Mera Jism Meri Marzi

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This article is about Aurat March slogan in Pakistan. For worldwide view of the subject, see My body, my choice.

Mera Jism Meri Marzi (Urdu: میرا جسم میری مرضی; lit. 'My body, My choice') is a feminist slogan used by feminists in Pakistan to demand bodily autonomy and protest gender-based violence.[1]

The slogan was popularized by the Aurat March in Pakistan, which was observed on International Women's Day since 2018.

Origin and background[]

Feminism in Pakistan

'...“When I say
'Mera Jism Meri Marzi',
I don’t mean
I want strip my clothes off
and run around naked!
....I mean to say that
I am a human
and this is my body,
so it is up to me
whether I allow you
to stare at it
or touch it, or not.
It means that I
can report you
if you don’t comply.
It means that I
can take an action
against you if you harass me
because you have
no right over MY body.”
~ Mahira Khan.

– dailypakistan.com.pk
"Mahira Khan faces backlash
for supporting
Mera Jism Meri Marzi slogan’".
February , 2021[2]

The Mera Jism Meri Marzi slogan was first chanted in Pakistan during the Aurat March in 2018.[1] Placards mentioning this and other slogans were used by the protesters and organizers of the march.

The march came under stern criticism by rightists, who saw the march as being in opposition to the sociocultural and religious values of Pakistani society which is patriarchal and predominantly Muslim. These rightists thought this slogan was a call for vulgarity and nudity. However, feminists said the slogan should be interpreted in a broader sense: they are protesting against abuse and harassment and in support of the idea that women should not be touched or pursued sexually against their will.[3] According to Muhammad Anwar Nasar, the slogan is a symbolic expression and needs academic support to understand. The expression (rhetoric) underlines the structural violence, injustices, and inequality inflicted on women of Pakistani society in various forms, like honor killing, acid attacks, and harassment at public places and offices, child rape, women labor in the form of childbirth, minor girls marriages to an aged man, forced child marriages, the Vani customs of giving girls to aggrieved family for ending disputes and that of domestic violence.[4] The learning allied with this rhetoric also asserts for a gender-equal world with the least gender discrimination.[5]

Zainab Najeeb advises opponents of the slogan 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi', not to read into the slogan what it is really not. The intention behind the slogan is not to promote prostitution as opponents may be leading the Pakistani public to wrongly believe.[6] Najeeb contends that since religions acknowledge objective truths and women are humans, as humans they are supposed to have full bodily autonomy over their bodies, so religiously speaking there is nothing wrong in this expectation.[6] Najeeb asserts that slogan is a declaration of women's independence which is being suppressed by notions of being somebody else's honor or exchangeable commodity or a piece of flesh. Najeeb also asserts that the slogan is about just expectations of women's freedom to save their bodies from unwanted glances or touching, to choose a life partner who respects her bodily autonomy or not to have a partner at all, the freedom to seek health-related support without making social taboo about nature of ailment and not feeling burdened for enjoying freedom in public spaces.[6]

Usage[]

The slogan was first used in Pakistan during the Aurat March in 2018.[7] It was further pursued during the Aurat March in 2019[8] and was highly anticipated in Aurat March 2020.[9] It has become a debate in the country's media and a talk of town in social media platforms but mostly is criticized for not being in conformity with societal norms in the country.[10] It is promoted with hashtag #MeraJismMeriMarzi on social media platforms and campaign against it is also being trended with hashtag #WeRejectMeraJismMeriMarzi.[11]

Variations[]

The slogan Mera Jism Meri Marzi has led to new slogans. Many placards in Aurat March found out work around with spin to main four words with similar notion such as:[12]

  • Meri Zindagi Meri Marzi (میری زندگی میری مرضی; My life, my choice)
  • Meri Zindagi Mere Faisalay (میری زندگی میرے فیصلے; My life, my decisions)
  • Meri Zindagi Mera Ikhtiyar (میری زندگی میرا اختیار; My life, my discretion)
  • Mera Mazhab Meri Marzi (میرا مذہب میری مرضی; My religion, my choice)
  • Mera Wajood Meri Marzi (میرا وجود میری مرضی; My existence, My choice)
  • Mera Poster Tumhari Marzi? (میرا پوسٹر تمہاری مرضی؟; My poster, your choice?)

Criticism[]

This and other slogans like Nazar teri gandi aur purdah mein keroun (Why do I adopt veil cause of your bad habit of ogling), Agar dupatta itna pasand hai tou apni aankhon pe bandh lo (If you like scarf this much then tie it on your eyes), Tu kare tou Stud, Mai Karun tou Slut (If you do it then Stud but If I do it then Slut), Khana khud garam karo (Ready the food yourself) of Aurat March were highly criticized by the religious right in Pakistan as they were thought to be in nonconformity with the societal and ethical values in the country.[13] It was termed indecent by clergy[14] and a National Assembly panel called it immoral.[15] It was also criticized for not addressing the real issues of women in the country and undermining values.[16] Mera Jism Meri Marzi was discussed extensively on social media and many campaigns were started against it by rightists. It became a main tool in liberals' and rightists' war on social media with both defending their opinions and degrading others. It was also debated on national media with rights activists vouching for it and clergy calling it un-Islamic. Feminists defended the slogan citing the most recent (Feb 2020) honor killing incident in which two brothers killed their sister and her child for marrying a person of her own choice and thus exercising autonomy over her own body.[17]

Controversies[]

Amidst the Aurat March row, famous writer Khalil ur Rehman Qamar appeared on a talk show on Neo News where during debate he freaked out at the feminism activist Marvi Sirmed on interrupting him with chanting Mera Jism Meri Marzi slogan and made misogynist remarks about her and shamed her body which led to criticism and boycott of him by media fraternity.[18][19] He was also criticized previously for some of his remarks which were thought to be regressive against women in the backdrop of his drama Meray Paas Tum Ho. However, on social media many people rallied in his support and hailed him for his remarks.[20]

Owing to the ongoing row on media and other spaces PEMRA (Pakistan) released an advisory restricting media houses over the matter and on airing such slogans as people taking offense complained against it with PEMRA and on Citizen Portal.[21]

A case was filed in Lahore High Court to stop Aurat March and these slogans were discussed during hearing; however, the court allowed it on the condition that no discriminatory or immoral slogan be used.[22] Another case was also filed in Islamabad High Court to stop Aurat March. The court asked the petitioner how these slogans are against Islam and dismissed the petition.[23]

Reciprocal slogans and memes war[]

Since the start of this row some reciprocal slogans working around the main four words were also raised by people against it, like Apni chupkalli khud maro (Kill lizard yourself), Ladies first, Gents first kab ayega (When will there be Gents first), Meri nazrein, Meri marzi (My eyes, my will).[24] These reciprocal slogans were mostly sarcastic and on lighter notes with some ridiculing as well. Along with social media war between liberals and rightists, it also became a meme material for memers and memes, comics etc. were made over it on social media.

BBC Urdu informs that women who supported 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' slogan in previous march complain that apart from threats to their physical well-being, patriarchal mindsets used the slogan to trivialize women's issues, including justifying masturbation and flashing at public places. In Tribune Warda Imran questions phenomena of misappropriating the slogan to mock serious crimes and sustain forms of structural violence against women attempting to deny public spaces and equal opportunities to women.[25]

In popular media and culture[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Shah, Bina (29 November 2019). "Mera jism meri marzi". The Feministani. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  2. ^ Webdesk, The Newspaper's Staff (2021-03-04). "The Aurat Azadi March explains why we need
    feminism"    . en.dailypakistan.com.pk.
  3. ^ "Explainer: What does Mera Jism Meri Marzi mean?". Global Village Space. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  4. ^ Images Staff (2020-03-06). "Some people really don't understand what Mera Jism Meri Marzi really stands for, and it shows". Images. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  5. ^ "Understanding the meaning of 'My Body, My Choice'". Daily Times. 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  6. ^ a b c "Aurat March 2020: A case for 'scandalous' slogans | Special Report | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  7. ^ Bashir, Siham (9 March 2018). "Aurat March 2018 — the rise of sisterhood". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  8. ^ Chughtai, Alia (8 March 2019). "Pakistani women hold 'aurat march' for equality, gender justice". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  9. ^ Tarar, Mehr (5 March 2020). "Aurat March of Pakistan: The decoding of Mera Jism Meri Marzi or My Body, My Choice". Gulf News. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  10. ^ Abbas, Mazhar (5 March 2020). "Who is against 'Aurat March'?". The News International. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  11. ^ Khan, Aizbah (5 March 2020). "Aurat March 2020: #WeRejectMeraJismMeriMrzi trends on Twitter". BOL News. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  12. ^ Tribune.com.pk (2020-03-10). "The aesthetics of Aurat March 2020". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  13. ^ Azeem, Tehreem (20 March 2019). "Pakistan's Women Marched for Their Rights. Then the Backlash Came". The Diplomat. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  14. ^ Shah, Nadeem (6 March 2020). "'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' is indecency: Fazl". The News International.
  15. ^ "NA panel thinks slogan 'Mera Jisam, Meri Marzi' is 'immoral'". Pakistan Today. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Aurat March placards attract criticism". Global Village Space. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  17. ^ "Pakistan: Brother kills sister and her newborn son for marrying man of her choice, netizens outraged". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  18. ^ "Mahira Khan calls out Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar for his blatant misogyny". Dawn Images. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  19. ^ Shakeel, Madiha (6 March 2020). "Media production house suspends Khalil ur Rehman Qamar". Business Recorder. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Why Are People Supporting Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar". Reviewit.pk. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  21. ^ Hussain, Ali (6 March 2020). "Aurat March: Pemra asked to stop channels from telecasting delinquent slogans". Business Recorder.
  22. ^ Yasif, Rana (3 March 2020). "LHC green-lights Aurat March, but with conditions". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  23. ^ "IHC asks petitioner to explain how Aurat march slogans go against Islam". The News International. 6 March 2020.
  24. ^ Sulaiman, Ghazala (12 March 2019). "Mard March in Response to Aurat March 2019 Creates Uproar on Social Media". Brandsynario. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  25. ^ اصغر, منزہ انوار، ثنا آصف اور ترہب (2020-03-04). "عورت مارچ: 'معاشرے کو محفوظ بنا دیں، نعرے ٹھیک ہو جائیں گے'". BBC News اردو (in Urdu). Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  26. ^ "Javeria Saud's 'Aurat Gardi' endorses Mera Jism, Meri Marzi". Daily Times. 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2021-03-09.

External links[]

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