#MeToo: 'Yes all men' or 'Not all men'?

The brutal murder of Noor Mukadam, a 27-year-old woman, has not only highlighted hidden toxic misogyny in Pakistan but also raised alarming concerns about women’s safety in the country.

July has been an unfortunate month for Pakistani women, Noor was shot and then slaughtered by an elite businessman in Islamabad last week. Yesterday a mother of the 14-year-old month was raped and later killed along wither her child. Many raised concerns and others were shocked.

Many people on social media blamed the victims that a woman named Naseem Bibi should not have travelled alone with a stranger. Noor was killed over a breakup with the accused. The deceased should not have had a relationship with him like that before marriage as it is forbidden in the religion.

However, haram relationship does not seem a problem here as in this same month, Qurat-ul-Ain, a mother of four young children was allegedly murdered by her husband, Umer Khalid Memon, in Hyderabad.

These recent cases have triggered a debate on social media about the state’s failure to protect women and violence being subjected based on someone’s gender, such conflict has divided the social media users over ‘Yes all men’ or ‘Not all men’.

Many blamed men for rapidly increasing cases of violence against women and others believed it was women’s job to educate their sons and bring them well.

#YesAllMen why? Because whenever i go out with my sister, they stare at her. As soon as i stare them back, they lower their eyes. #YesAllMen because ik how some of my classmates talk about women. #YesAllMen because im scared for my sisters and my mother.

— duffy⁷ (@Uchiha__Kurama) July 27, 2021

Every woman I know have faced some kind of domestic violence. Be it physical, sexual, verbal or emotional. Pakistani men have severe mental issues. So yes almoat all Pakistani men are abusers. #YesAllMen

— Pernia Khan (@PerniaKhan) July 27, 2021

Yes all men including me, since last few days am feeling been sick and guilty being man, its not suppose to be in such way, but unfortunate its happening and happening very bad !! #Respectwomen #YesAllMen

— Tom^^^ (@Shahid93252087) July 27, 2021

Men STILL have the audacity to say ‘not all men’
The same men dont allow their daughters to go out at night, brothers lose their shit if they find out their sis has a boyfriend, husbands become irrational abt wives’ guy friends etc.
Because deep down, all men KNOW that #YesAllMen

— Bissmah Mehmud (@bissmahmehmud) July 22, 2021

While some of them believed:

#NotAllMen are bad not all women are innocent 😇

— Laila binte fatimeh (@being__Shia) July 27, 2021

Dear Women, if you think all men are beasts then don’t forget your father, brother, husband & son are also men.

Trend #NotAllMen is Right
Trend #YesAllMen is Wrong

— 𝐷𝑟. 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑎 𝐾ℎ𝑎𝑛 🇺🇸🇵🇰 (@skusa_dr) July 27, 2021