Mera Jism Meri Marzi

Mera Jism Meri Marzi slogan was first chanted in Pakistan during Aurat March in 2018.[1] Placards mentioning this and other slogans were used by the protesters and organizers of the march, which came under stern criticism by rightists, who perceived it as being against the sociocultural and religious values of Pakistani society which is patriarchal and predominantly Muslim. It was thought that by such slogans women demanding independence for vulgarity and nudity in the country. However, feminists believed that the slogan should be taken in a broader sense and it is against women's abuse and harassment and 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. The learning allied with this rhetoric also asserts for a gender-equal world with the least gender discrimination.[4]

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.[5] 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.[5] 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.[5]

In India a short film, My Choice, made in 2015 as part of Vogue India's social awareness initiative featuring Deepika Padukone, referred to the same slogan Mera Jism Meri Marzi. It talked about reproductive rights and wide range of issues concerned to South Asian women specifically Indian women like freedom to choose clothing, movement, love, sexuality and marriage and safety from domestic and outdoor violence, including sexual harassment.[6][7][8][9][10]

The slogan was first used in the Aurat March of 2018.[11] It was further pursued during the Aurat March in 2019[12] and was highly anticipated in Aurat March 2020.[13] 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.[14] It is promoted with hashtag #MeraJismMeriMarzi on social media platforms and campaign against it is also being trended with hashtag #WeRejectMeraJismMeriMrzi.[15]

Meri Zindagi Mera Haq, Meri Zindagi Mera Ikhtiyar (My life is my right and I should have the power to make decisions about my life)

The phrase Mera Jism Meri Marzi, meaning My Body My Choice in Urdu and Hindi, has some variations too, like Meri zindagi, meri marzi (My life, my choice) meri zindagi mere faisale (My life, my decisions). One of the alleged rape case, the victim in India phrased her argument in words Mera jism mera hai, mere employer ka khilona nahi (My body is mine, Not a toy to be played by my employer)[16][17]

On 8 March 2020 Aurat March, Many placards found out work around with spin to main four words with similar notion, like 'mera poster, tumhari marzi?' (my poster, your choice?), making way for 'mera mazhab, meri marzi' (my religion, my choice) in an allusion to forced conversion, and 'mera wajood, meri marzi' (my existence, my choice).[18]

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.[19] It was termed indecent by clergy[20] and a National Assembly panel called it immoral.[21] It was also criticized for not addressing the real issues of women in the country and undermining values.[22] 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.[23] However, neutral analysts viewed that both the sides were extreme in defending their narratives.

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.[24][25] 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.[26]

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.[27]

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.[28] 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.[29]

Since the start of this row some reciprocal slogans 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).[30] 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 sported '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.[31]

• Aurat Foundation
• Blue Veins
• Feminism in India
• Girls at Dhabas
• International Women's Day
• Me Too movement (Pakistan)
• Rape in Pakistan
• Violence against women in Pakistan
• Women in Islam
• Women's Action Forum
• Women's Protection Bill
• Women's rights

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Mera Jism Meri Marzi

• Aurat March official on Facebook.
• My Choice, Deepika Padukone Directed by Homi Adajania (Youtube)