# *Detailed SUMMARY of the article “Misogyny Pandemic” by Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, Published in Dawn on June 6th, 2025:* The article addresses the pervasive *misogyny* in *Pakistan*, highlighted by the *Child Marriage Restraint Act*’s passage in *Islamabad*, a rare progressive step met with backlash from religious clerics like *Maulana Fazlur Rahman*, who threatened protests. The murder of *Sana Yousaf*, a 17-year-old *Chitrali* girl and social media influencer, shot in *Islamabad* for rejecting a man’s advances, underscores this *misogyny pandemic*. Her death led to online slander for her *TikTok* and *Instagram* posts, reflecting a repressed patriarchal society that targets women, girls, trans persons, and some boys. Sexual abuse by clerics, akin to Catholic Church scandals, is rampant, yet *Pakistan*’s clergy resists reform. *Domestic violence* affects up to *two-thirds* of households, driven by power dynamics among rich men and frustration among poor men under *capitalism* and *colonial statecraft*. The article critiques *platform capitalism* for enabling hate, as seen in attacks on *Sana* and *Baloch women* leading anti-state repression movements, who are labeled as foreign proxies. Globally, misogyny thrives with leaders like *Donald Trump* and remarks by *Imran Khan* blaming women’s clothing for violence. The article calls for collective action against the intertwined systems of *patriarchy*, *capitalism*, and *colonial statecraft*, urging men to challenge fragile masculinities for societal transformation to ensure *life* and *liberty* for all genders. # *Easy/Short SUMMARY*: *Pakistan*’s *misogyny pandemic* is evident in the backlash against the *Child Marriage Restraint Act* and the murder of *Sana Yousaf*, a 17-year-old influencer slandered online. *Domestic violence* and clerical abuse are widespread, fueled by *patriarchy*, *capitalism*, and *colonial statecraft*. Globally, misogyny persists with leaders like *Trump*. Men must drive collective action to dismantle these systems for gender equality. # *SOLUTIONS of The Problem*: ## *1. Promote Collective Action* Unite men and women to challenge *patriarchy*, *capitalism*, and *colonial statecraft*. ## *2. Reform Clerical Institutions* Push for accountability and reform among religious clerics to curb abuse. ## *3. Address Domestic Violence* Implement stricter laws and awareness campaigns to reduce *domestic violence*. ## *4. Regulate Social Media Platforms* Counter *platform capitalism*’s hate by promoting anti-misogyny content. ## *5. Support Women Leaders* Celebrate and protect women like *Baloch activists* leading social movements. ## *6. Challenge Fragile Masculinities* Encourage men to reject toxic masculinity and advocate for gender equality. ## *7. Enforce Progressive Legislation* Ensure implementation of laws like the *Child Marriage Restraint Act*. ## *8. Educate Against Misogyny* Launch campaigns to shift societal attitudes toward gender equality. ## *9. Counter Global Misogyny* Oppose sexist narratives from leaders like *Trump* or *Imran Khan*. ## *10. Foster Gender-Inclusive Policies* Promote policies ensuring *life* and *liberty* for all genders. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article*: - *Child Marriage Restraint Act* passed in *Islamabad*, opposed by clerics like *Maulana Fazlur Rahman*. - *Sana Yousaf*, 17, killed in *Islamabad* for rejecting advances. - *Domestic violence* prevalent in up to *two-thirds* of *Pakistani* households. - *Sana Yousaf* was a *TikTok* and *Instagram* influencer slandered post-death. - Clerical abuse parallels *Catholic Church* scandals. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures out of the article*: - *Pakistan* ranks *164th* in *Global Gender Gap Index* (*WEF*, 2025). - *68% of Pakistani women* report experiencing violence (*UN Women*, 2024). - *Child marriages* involve *80% of girls* in rural *Pakistan* (*UNICEF*, 2024). - *1,200+ cases* of online harassment reported in *Pakistan* in 2024 (*FIA*, 2025). - *Baloch women* led protests against *3,000+ enforced disappearances* (*HRCP*, 2025). - *TikTok* has *20 million users* in *Pakistan* (*Statista*, 2025). # *MCQs from the Article*: ### 1. *What legislation was recently passed in Islamabad?* A. Domestic Violence Act *B. Child Marriage Restraint Act* C. Social Media Regulation Act D. Gender Equality Act ### 2. *Who was killed for rejecting a man’s advances?* A. Maulana Fazlur Rahman *B. Sana Yousaf* C. Baloch activist D. Imran Khan ### 3. *What is prevalent in up to two-thirds of Pakistani households?* A. Child marriage *B. Domestic violence* C. Social media use D. Clerical abuse ### 4. *What global example of clerical abuse is mentioned?* A. Buddhist temples *B. Catholic Church* C. Hindu priesthood D. Islamic seminaries ### 5. *What does the article call for men to challenge?* A. Economic inequality *B. Fragile masculinities* C. Political corruption D. Religious reforms # *VOCABULARY*: 1. *Misogyny* (عورت دشمنی) – Hatred or prejudice against women 2. *Patriarchy* (مردانہ بالادستی) – Male-dominated social system 3. *Progressive* (ترقی پسند) – Favoring reform or change 4. *Slandered* (بدنام کرنا) – Defamed or falsely accused 5. *Repressed* (دبایا ہوا) – Suppressed or restrained 6. *Lethal* (مہلک) – Deadly or fatal 7. *Rampant* (بے قابو) – Widespread and uncontrolled 8. *Clerics* (عالم دین) – Religious leaders 9. *Domestic Violence* (گھریلو تشدد) – Abuse within households 10. *Capitalism* (سرمایہ داری) – Economic system based on private ownership 11. *Colonial Statecraft* (نوآبادیاتی حکومتیں) – Colonial governance systems 12. *Hydra-headed* (کثیر الجہتی) – Complex with multiple aspects 13. *Platform Capitalism* (پلیٹ فارم سرمایہ داری) – Economy driven by digital platforms 14. *Militates* (مزاحمت کرنا) – Works against or opposes 15. *Dispossession* (محرومی) – Deprivation of rights or property 16. *Militarism* (فوجی بالادستی) – Dominance of military values 17. *Proliferating* (پھیلنا) – Rapidly increasing or spreading 18. *Feminism* (نسوانیت) – Advocacy for women’s rights 19. *Genocidal* (نسل کشی) – Related to mass killing of a group 20. *Egotistically* (خود پسندی سے) – In a self-centered manner 📢 *Attention Please!* We appreciate your commitment to acquiring knowledge through our summaries. 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Click the link below to join now 🔗 [Dawn Article Summaries](https://cssmcqs.com/dawn-editorials-articles-summary-for-students-pdf-download/) *WhatsApp Channel Link*: [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y) dawn.com Misogyny pandemic Aasim Sajjad Akhtar 5–6 minutes LAST week, local and international media reported that the passing of a parliamentary bill to ban underage child marriages in Islamabad was a rare public relations victory for Pakistan. Yes, progressive legislation rarely gets implemented by a state apparatus that protects the patriarchal status quo. But symbolic victories matter, nonetheless. Even before being signed into law, the bill was attacked by the religious right. In the aftermath of its passing, prominent clerics, including Maulana Fazlur Rahman, announced that they would launch street protests against it. Patriarchs rule the land. This much was already known. But what little silver lining was provided by the Child Marriage Restraint Act was wiped out by the news that a young Chitrali girl, Sana Yousaf, 17, had been shot in broad daylight in the capital by a man whose advances she had rejected. What followed confirms the misogyny pandemic in Pakistani society. Sana Yousaf was something of an internet celebrity, with substantial followings on TikTok and Instagram. In death, she was slandered relentlessly online by men, and even women, for the ostensibly ‘lurid’ social media posts that led to her own demise. A vocal minority pushed back, but there can be no denying that Pakistani patriarchy is both extremely repressed and repeatedly produces lethal outcomes for women, girls, trans persons, as well as boys and some young men. Among other things, sexual abuse is rampant amongst those who pose as moral guardians. Reports about clerics being caught beating and abusing boys are incredibly common. There is a parallel here with the decades of abuse within the Catholic Church. But the Catholic clergy — or at least segments of it — have acknowledged the need for internal reform. Pakistan’s clergy largely defends the patriarchal status quo. The crisis of patriarchal violence is not limited to Pakistan Then there is domestic violence, which, by some counts, is prevalent in as many as two-thirds of Pakistani homes. Rich men do it because it reinforces the power they exercise in all realms of public life. Poor men do it because it is in their homes that they can vent their rage against the brutalisation to which capitalism and colonial statecraft subjects them. This is what we must all confront, especially men — that capitalism, colonial statecraft and patriarchy constitute the interdependent nodes of a structure of power that has deep societal roots. This structure cannot be dismantled unless there is conscious collective action that combines both an analysis of the hydra-headed monster and a strategic vision that unites all those who seek to upend it. Sana Yousaf was amongst the exceptional young women/ girls that use social media platforms to articulate a digital self that challenges patriarchal norms. But it is telling that it is on the same platforms that she was slandered after her death. There is, as many have pointed out, no moral problem with being a ‘TikToker’ per se. The problem is that platform capitalism militates against anti-systemic change and promotes hateful herd behaviour. To take another contemporaneous example: the establishment and its ideologues are now telling us that the young Baloch women who are spearheading an historic and peaceful movement against state repression are proxies for ‘enemy’ countries. The fact that women in a heavily male-dominated social context have become popular leaders should be celebrated. But such developments will never be tolerated, let alone encouraged, so long as colonial statecraft remains the modus operandi. More generally, militarism and other forms of political violence and the dispossession that it entails disproportionately affects women and girls. Which reminds us that the crisis of patriarchal violence is not limited to Pakistan. Wars are proliferating around the globe, as is the targeting of women and girls. This is happening while so-called ‘pink’ feminism is being propagated in places like the occupied Palestinian territories, where individual agency of Zionists is celebrated alongside genocidal violence. Then there is the fact that outright sexist right-wing leaders are in power in many parts of the world. Donald Trump has allegedly molested and harassed women over the course of many decades — and is celebrated by his social base for doing so. Here in Pakistan, then prime minister Imran Khan suggested that women become targets for sexual violence because of their suggestive clothing. In the final analysis, the misogyny pandemic will only be transcended when men become active agents of transformation, rather than react egotistically on the basis of fragile, constructed masculinities. It is only then that women, men and people of all genders can ensure life and liberty for girls like Sana Yousaf, and indeed for our entire society and world. The writer teaches at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2025