Pakistani Men Post Pics Holding Misogynist Placards Protesting Women’s March, Get Slammed Online

Women’s rights in Islamic countries is probably the worst in the world. So it didn’t really come as a surprise when the Aurat March which was held in Pakistan this Women’s Day faced a severe backlash.

Women and the LGBTQ community across various cities in Pakistan marched the streets chanting slogans about their everyday realities of gender inequality, safety issues, and a dearth of opportunities.

While they were applauded by many and their colourful placards went viral online, several citizens, mostly men but also some women, criticized and attacked the movement.

And soon, in retaliation to the march, a number of men started posting pictures holding placards of their own, trolling women, calling it the Mard March.

“Consent mera bhi zaruri hai”.

“Tum Whatsapp Check Karao”.

What’s even worse is that people came forward to support the ‘Mard March’.

They spoke about how women unnecessarily try playing the victim card and that feminism is just a means of hating men.

https://t.co/Bv6KDtJwE8

A feminist is a woman who always think k usky sath ziyadti ho rhi hai . No 1 can take her out of this complex… deewar k sath takrain marna 😂😂😂 And when Logic ends We Get a block … i am planning a #MardMarch

— محمد فیضان سھیل (@mfaizansohail05) March 25, 2019

Apnay Jahaaz Khud Urao.#MardMarch

— Khalil ur Rehman Comor (@KURQMR) March 18, 2019

Beard itni Pasand he to khud Rakhlo😂😂 #Mardmarch

— Ather Tweets (@AtherSays_here) March 18, 2019

People who support #AuratMarch are called feminist and if the same people support #MardMarch they are called misogynist. Hypocrisy at its peak

— اسيف أمين (@Aak_PhD) March 16, 2019

#AuratMarch has become controversial bc of vulgar, dirty , sexist & Anti-Male placards..Desi Liberals jeopardizes women's rights movement in Pak and it has gone into the wrong hands of elite n privileged class of Pakistan. Vulgarity/Sexism in #AuratMarch gave rise to #MardMarch

— Jad. Sar. (@jad_sar) March 16, 2019

https://twitter.com/Mariam_Jamali/status/1105091163877490688

Women telling men to shut up and that they can’t have an opinion on the #AuratMarch2019 yet can’t follow their own advice on #MardMarch. How can you claim to be fighting for equality when you don’t yourself believe in equality only privilege?

— SocialPariah (@Non_granta) March 14, 2019

However, several people jumped in and condemned the Mard March. Calling out to the insecurity and threatened misogyny, many pointed out the regressiveness of the backlash.

Those who were bashing Aurat March yesterday, for demanding rights and raising the issues that they gave daily. In their DM's and homes. Kindly check "mard march" and you'll yourself see how far men can go Just to satisfy their ego's with irrelevant and unnecessary shit

— 🐾 (@blurredoutname) March 11, 2019

Some very insecure men have organized a response to #AuratMarch — #MardMarch.

This is so sad and pathetic. pic.twitter.com/FS5YltMXVT

— sameera khan (@SameeraKhan) March 11, 2019

https://twitter.com/TheChameleon84/status/1105095469989052417

Lmaooo… what a joke men are.. in an already patriarchal country they went out for Mard March.
I'm sure they will be holding all the licentious placards to ridicule women so that male fragile ego can be sated.

— Martial FC (@AemunSh3rwanee_) March 11, 2019

This is not Mard March, this is Shadeed Qisam ka Dard march.

Itna Dard Kiu?

— Syed Farrukh Abbas (@farrukh_abbas12) March 11, 2019

Y’all is this a fucking joke?? These guys CANT be that dumb right? #mardmarch pic.twitter.com/Puc0FQuRGu

— Raahima (@raahimashoaib) March 15, 2019

Wait, is #MardMarch a real thing?

I thought it was a trolling strategy.

Dear lord 🤦🏻‍♂️

— 40 Year Old Founder (@JJBaybee) March 15, 2019

According to the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report 2018, Pakistan hits rock bottom when it comes to gender equality. Out of 149 countries globally, it ranks 148.

Hence, it makes movements like the Aurat March quite necessary to bring about at least some change in the overall treatment of women.

It’s sad how patriarchy has moulded individuals into thinking that women empowerment is a threat to humankind!