There are two sides to the coin of male support. In the case of individual achievers, they always had the backing of males. In the case of women who have done inspiring work to get equal rights for women and representation in all fields of careers as well as politics, their opponents are men.
Women's Day hype tends to demonise the whole male population. Even the heroes will give a cursory nod of recognition to the menflok who backed them, encouraged them to achieve greatness. The media, too, plays up regressive tendencies, especially of religious parties, such as declaring Punjab's Protection of Women Against Violence Act as a piece of lousy legislation which is 'anti-family values'. They still harp on the attack on Malala Yousufzai every single time she is in the news. In short, the tone is that the women who wish to make Pakistan a better place for women are discouraged through violent attacks and venemous criticism by men.
But have they noticed the regressive forces are losing their battle to keep Pakistan in the dark ages? Look at the number of pro-women laws that are being enacted. Wet blankets merely focus on the agitation against the laws. Is there a thing which is considered male territory in which women have not confidently step into - and always with male backing? Take Ayesha Farooq 28, Pakistan's and South Asia's first female war-ready fighter pilot. It is the Pakistan Air Force, which is widely considered as a 'male territory', which trained her. Or twenty-something Sabia Abbat 2013 National Cycling Champion, trained by the Cycling Federation and Army - another 'male territory'. The achievement of these women, in various areas of human activity are profound.
Pakistan is culturally patriarchal, so the key to bringing women into the mainstream of social, economic and political spheres has to be with the help of men. The question is why are men not leaders in the struggle to give women their rights? Should only women struggle? When any movement is female dominated it tends to cause a psychological block in male minds. The men think women are trying to replace them, or they feel they will lose their status if they server under a female leader. This attitude is generally interpreted by female activists as being anti-women. It is not, really, it is just an expression of the timeless male domination in the social order.
Talking about attitudes, females and males in our society tend to have separate social norms. Even in, say a dinner party of educated and modernised Pakistanis, the men will gather together in a group discussing stocks and shares and cars, while the women will be in another group chatting about fashions, scandals, health and food. The company of such women is very boring for a female like yours truly. I, therefore, tend to avoid the female group and gravitate to the men's group, which is only less boring. High society offers delicious food at parties but no food for thought. Even when politics are discussed the talk is based on biases and ignorance of real issues.
Women in Pakistan will never achieve equality with men unless the men pull their weight in advocating for women's rights. Only when menfolk work for women's empowerment there will be real progress.