Hickory Grove Christian School

Why The Burka Avenger Empowers Women

Caleb Davis
Rebekah Digavero
1/16/14

On July 28, 2013, the pilot episode of The Burka Avenger aired in Pakistan. The fairly
new childrens cartoon has stirred up a big controversy on its portrayal of women in the
patriarchal Pakistani society. The Pakistani childrens show, The Burka Avenger, challenges the
Patriarchal norms of the society by portraying the Burka Avenger as a powerful warrior,
supporting educational rights for all, and encouraging women to fight for their rights.
In an interview with CNN reporter Saima Mohsin, the shows creator, Aaron Haroon
Rashid, responds to controversy the show has created. In this educational childrens cartoon,
Jiya, a humble school teacher, fights a Taliban-like group attempting to shut down a school for
girls. Jiya does so by fighting the group, literally, with books and pens and, she disguises herself
in an outfit worn by many Pakistani women-the burka. Due to the fact that many in Western
cultures view the Burka as a way to oppress women of the Islamic faith by forcing them to hide,
the show had gotten a lot of criticism even before the first episode aired. Rashid responds to
these criticisms explaining, She [the Burka Avenger] chooses to wear it [the burka] to hide her
identity like Batman or Catwoman. It makes sense for Jiya to hide her identity in a burka the
same way any other super hero would hide their identity using the clothing of their culture. In an
interview with NPR radio Rashid also defended Jiyas costume of choice by saying that the
burka prevents her from being sexualized, for many women superheroes in the West are
sexualized in their costumes. By making the character wear a burka, Rashid is also making the
character relatable to the culture, for many women in Pakistan choose to wear a burka. So,
women who wear a burka will feel empowered by the shows positive portrayal of women in a
burka. Even though the burka has a negative connotation in Western cultures, the show
empowers women by showing that Muslim women can stand up for their rights to an education
just as Jiya does in the show.

Rashid also chooses to use the burka to keep people from saying that the show is against
Islam, for the Muslim terrorist group, the Taliban have hijacked the religion, according to
Saima Moshin, a reporter for CNN. Because of the bombing of schools, particularly girls
schools, by the terrorist group, Western cultures have view Islam as being against equal rights for
women. But with his new show, Rashid plans to portray a Muslim woman who stands for all the
good things in Islam. Rashid did not intend to portray the burka as a means to repress women.
Jiya is a Muslim woman who wears the Burka by choice, and the burka she wears looks more
like a ninja outfit than the traditional burka worn by many women in Islamic cultures today. The
Burka Avenger is a single, independent woman who by no means oppressed by the wearing of
the burka. The show empowers women by portraying a woman who wears the burka as powerful
figure who fights oppression and stands up for the rights of boys and girls.
Marvi Surmed tells CBS news reporter Margret Brennan that the Burka Avenger wrongly
glorifies the burka, saying that it is a tool of oppression. Similarly, novelist Bina Shah
questions whether or not it is right to use the show to brainwash girls into thinking that a burqa
gives you power( "Pakistan's "Burka Avenger" Cartoon Stirs Outfit Controversy."). However,
women in Islamic cultures are not oppressed by the wearing of the burka, for it is worn by
choice. According to Pierre Tristam, a journalist for Flagler Live, an online news site in Florida,
says that the Koran does not require the wearing of the burka, but it is often worn by devout
women of the Muslim faith. Women who wear the burka take it off only in in the comfort of their
homes. Though, Jiya is a Muslim woman, she only wears the burka at night when she is fighting
those trying to oppress women. The show is not communicating that women only have
significance when wearing the burka, for Jiya holds a daily job as a school teacher for a girls
school. She is a valued member of her community. She is intelligent and resourceful. She is also

something of a care-taker for the children of Halwapur, the fictional city that is the shows
setting. She is also a role model for Ashu, a citizen of Halwapur who dreams of becoming a
doctor or teacher like Jiya. Ashu is also inspired to work for girls education rights by the Burka
Avenger (Burka Avenger). She does not imitate the hero by wearing a burka, however, for
Rashid did not intend for the character to inspire girls in that way. The message of the show is
not about how Pakistani girls should dress, but rather about how they should fight for their rights
to an education. Tristam even explains that even in Muslim circles, whether or not to require
wearing of the burka is debated.
Unlike many Western superheroes, the Burka Avenger is used to bring about social
change. Pakistans literacy rate is one of the lowest in the world. According to Sania Salman of
PolicyMic.com the literacy rate for men is 54.9 % overall and40.3% for women, and this statistic
is somewhat misleading. It includes the Pakistanis who can only write their names. The many
school bombings by the Taliban since 2010 are partially to blame for this. The Burka Avenger
addresses the problem of illiteracy in Pakistan, and it communicates that education is a universal
right. Those who criticize the show for its use of the burka are ignoring its true purpose. The
show emphasizes the importance of education for boys and girls, for the Burka Avenger fights to
keep a girls school open. The creators of the show do not support the Taliban, for the shows
villains strongly resemble the terrorist group. The show also speaks out against political
corruption in Pakistan. The character does not say anything that encourages the wearing of the
burka. She does however; remind viewers that education is a right for both boys and girls at the
end of the shows pilot episode. Also by wearing the burka, Jiya communicates to viewers that it
is not our attire that determines who we are but rather our actions. Salman tells critics of the
show to stop focusing on what she wears and instead applaud what she does. While Pakistani

women who wear the burka are often viewed as weak and submissive, the Burka Avenger is
unafraid to stand up and fight for what she believes is right. She is a true hero who is respected
by the community both as a school teacher and as the avenger. The town rallies around the
crime-fighter in the pilot episode when she successfully reopens the closed girls school. This
reinforces the message of education for all and communicates that people should work together
to ensure equal rights for all. The burka is only a symbol of oppression if it is viewed as a symbol
of oppression. The Islamic religion does not intend to suppress women with the burka. The focus
of the show is not on what Jiya wears while fighting crime, but rather on what she stands for.
While the Burka Avenger is powerful, she has a message of nonviolence. Rashid tells
CNN that the show communicates that the pen is mightier than the sword. The tactics used by
the Burka Avenger vastly differ from the violent tactics used by the Taliban. She uses the
fictional martial art called Takht Kabbadithe art of fighting with books and pens. She does
not kill anyone. Rashid tells BBC News that shes throwing books [while] most people throw
bombs. She simply throws a book or a pen at bad guys to knock them unconscious. The fight
scenes in the show are very tongue-in-cheek, and even the villains barely hurt anyone. The
villains are also portrayed as dimwitted and uneducated. But, the Burka Avenger and her young
female sidekicks are portrayed as intelligent and resourceful. This communicates that education
is a virtue that empowers women. The nonviolent tone of the show also empowers women to
stand up for their rights nonaggressive.
The creator of the show, Burka Avenger did not intend for the show to be used to oppress
women, for it is meant to empower women to stand up nonviolently for their rights. It also has a
message of nonviolence and education for everyone. The characters costume is not meant to
portray an oppressed woman, but rather one who has great power and influence with or without

the burka on. The show is an inspirational work that is intended to bring about positive social
change.