On Wednesday, September 16, UNA-Pasadena hosted “Women’s Rights in Misogynistic Times,” a conversation examining gender, social and religious norms, politics, and the experiences of women in both the United States and Pakistan.
The discussion featured Jennifer Hall Lee, a UNA Pasadena Chapter board member, in conversation with Dr. Munazza Yaqoob, an associate professor and executive director of the Critical Thinking Forum at the International Islamic University Islamabad. Drawing on their more than 13 years of collaboration on women’s rights in Pakistan and the United States, the speakers examined changes in women’s rights, reproductive health access, and women’s participation in public life.
Specifically, Ms. Hall Lee and Dr. Yaqoob discussed the growth of misogynistic rhetoric online, including the rise of the “manosphere” and the spread of phrases such as “your body, my choice.” The speakers highlighted a statistic from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, which reported a 4,600% increase in mentions of “your body, my choice” and “get back in the kitchen” on X in the 24 hours following the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
The conversation also considered how social norms, cultural expectations, religion, and economic and political structures shape women’s experiences in different countries. Audience questions addressed reproductive rights, the online harassment of female politicians, representation, and the broader political structures influencing women’s opportunities to safely participate in public life.
Beverly Goldin, secretary of UNA-Pasadena, played a central role in spearheading the dialogue. When reflecting on her experience at the event, Goldin stated, “I think it’s important for us as a society to continue to talk about the inequities in any way shape or form so that we can bring as many people aware as possible, and I think UNA does a great job of giving people a voice and helping young people learn how to advocate for themselves and for their communities. It was a great event and we learned a lot about the struggles between Pakistani and American women.”
UNA-Pasadena is excited to continue our fall programing. Keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities, including our annual UN Day celebration/video challenge!
