PU Professor slammed for controversial FB post claiming that women harass men, men 'can never'

It is estimated that between 60 to 70 percent women in Pakistan have faced some form of harassment or abuse. However, a Professor from Punjab University claims that it is always women who harass men.

The Professor of International Relations at the University of the Punjab, Rana Eijaz Ahmad, recently shared some \\’controversial\\’ views on social media. Prof. Rana posted:

My thesis and strong argument are that it is only a woman who can harass a man. A man cannot harass a woman.

1/2 Not only in Pakistan usually, but in whole world females harass males including male teachers and students. My thesis and strong argument are that it is only a woman who can harass a man, a man cannot harras a woman. I have scientific and logical reasoning behind my argument.

— Rana Eijaz Ahmad (@ranaeijaz) August 17, 2020

As soon as the post went viral, social media witnessed two groups of opinions. The majority relentlessly criticized Prof. Rana\\’s stance, while few #HeToo supporters came forward to endorse his views.

Prof. Rana maintained that the phenomenon of harassment has been \\’highly politicized\\’ over the years. According to Prof. Rana, harassment is now used to settle political/ideological matters.

He further added that he is writing a research paper on the issue of harassment to dissolve the perception that men harass women.

When a media outlet asked for his definition of harassment, Prof. Rana explained:

My point is that harassment should not be understood in terms of gender. It is not. I can reasonably argue that it is all about power. A woman in a position of power can harass a man and vice versa. I do not deny that women face harassment at the workplace and elsewhere, but I also maintain that men are the worst victim of the same. To add insult to injury, men, unlike women, cannot report if they are ever harassed at home or outside.

Prof. Rana further described that branding men as monsters or sexual harassers, is often politically motivated. He stated:

It isn\\’t comforting to see people talking about my education, my institution, and my family. You may see on social media what so many people (and among them, women are around 90%) have said to me. Is this not harassment? Is bullying someone, just because you happen to disagree with what they think, normal?

Backing his harassment stance, Prof. Rana added:

I am not surprised to see people writing tweets or Facebook posts against me in a highly objectionable language. This truth is what I intended to highlight. Unfortunately, we have become a society where a few people bother to think before taking a position or writing a comment on any post they look at on social media.

While talking to the media outlet, he concluded his statement by saying:

I just said that women could harass men, and you see what I have been offered at large. Can you imagine what these people will say if I tell them that I have been harassed several times in my life by women?

It is pertinent to mention that the statement of Prof. Rana got importance due to the ongoing debate about harassment and a right to fair criticism in Pakistan. The discussion has been started by a group of well-known Pakistani female journalists and commentators. They claim that \\’vicious attacks\\’ are directed at them via social media by people linked to the ruling PTI government.

Briefed NA HR Committee under the chair of @BBhuttoZardari (alongwith other colleagues) re complaint of women journalists in Pakistan against attacks, clipped w/evidences. Thank you BBZ & whole of the committee for listening to us because #AttacksWontSilenceUs pic.twitter.com/HHC06QGH1H

— Gharidah Farooqi (@GFarooqi) August 18, 2020

The group of women seeking protection against these attacks includes Mehmal Sarfraz, Benazir Shah, Asma Shirazi, Reema Omer, and Munizae Jahangir.

Below is a joint statement by women journalists and commentators in Pakistan against online abuse and trolling by government officials and Twitter accounts which declare their affiliation to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. #AttacksWontSilenceUshttps://t.co/oF6WkM4YWN pic.twitter.com/cN2iuXhDgh

— Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) August 12, 2020

A PTI leader spoke to a media outlet regarding the matter and said:

These women take a strong political position to defend the parties of their choice, and, as you see, our supporters respond to them. The irony is that political difference is treated as harassment; a fair rebuttal generally harasses the other person\\’s lies.

What are your thoughts on this? Please share with us in the comment section below.