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Female Pakistani journalists share stories of harassment at the workplace

Female Pakistani journalists share stories of harassment at the workplace

Real stories from Pakistani workplaces. The country has its own Weinsteins, men who subject women to improper advances
Updated 20 Oct, 2017

Last Sunday, American actress Alyssa Milano tweeted 'Me Too.' The reason: "If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote 'Me too.' as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem." Within 24 hours, the hashtag was tweeted half a million times.

While the hashtag comes in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, sexism isn't limited to Hollywood. Every industry, in every country, has its own Weinsteins, including Pakistan.

Being a media group, we asked women journalists in Pakistan to share their 'Me too' stories in order to show the magnitude of the problem in the country's media industry and the sexism women journalists face in the line of work.

All the women have asked to keep their identity secret.

1) Sexual abuse in the field

"I was at a shrine a few years ago, reporting on a festival. It was late at night and there was a huge crowd. I was with a large group of people and the men had made a circle around the women in our group.

Yet, this still didn't stop a guy from jamming his fingers up my butt again and again and again, until I turned around with the intent to smash a rock in his face. But he managed to snake through the crowd and that was that."

2) Abuse of power

"When I first started, being a TV journalist did not seem any different than other industries where sexism and misogyny prevails. I learned early on, for example, that men working in technical roles often have difficulty accepting a woman producer.

Later, I joined a pioneer of television journalism in the country. I found that it was also a place where women were constantly harassed, subjected to sexual assaults, and slandered when they refused the advances of their seniors.

One of the most disturbing experiences I personally had was being asked to come to a senior’s office to discuss the agenda of the day’s show, only to find him jerking off to porn, even after having knocked and entering the office upon permission.

It turned out it was common knowledge that he indulged in such acts at the workplace. If that wasn't enough, he would offer his hand for women to shake, while they knew where it had just been."

3) Unwanted advances

"I invited a much-loved, viral, less-journalist-than-sensationalist television reporter to cover a campaign my organisation had been working on.

When I first called him, he told me to message him the brief (that’s reporter-speak for “I’m never filing this story”).

Nevertheless, I Whatsapp-ed the details to him. He immediately called me back. Thrilled that my written pitch had worked, I began spilling all my ideas for coverage – when he cut me short.

"Aap pehle tau yeh bataaein aap ki Whatsapp tasveer mein kaun hai?" (First tell me who is in your Whatsapp display picture?)

Taken aback, I muttered that it was me and immediately resumed talk of the campaign when he man-terrupted me again.

Agar aap he hain, tau mein tau zaroor milne aaunga aap ko." (If it really is you, then I’ll definitely come see you.)

I nervously laughed. I really didn’t want him to come anymore – but he offered my campaign unparalleled visibility so I sent him the where’s and when’s anyway.

He did show up at the launch. He placed his hand on my shoulder, told me he had never seen such an “intelligent voice come out of so pretty a mouth.” He never even looked at the campaign material once.

He called me again the next day, asking me when I was returning to the city. I told him I’d be sure to let him know when I did.

I’ve been back for days. He still doesn’t know."

4) A full-fledged culture of misogyny

"I'm at an office, waiting for the editor to come. It’s a magazine office, one of the very prestigious and old ones. I have arrived at the time I was asked to come, but incidentally no one is at work.

It’s my first day on the job training, so I have little idea that journalists always swing by late. As I'm waiting, a young guy walks up. He’s geeky looking, thin, glasses, button down shirt, greasy hair parted in the middle.

From the looks of it, harmless but certainly not someone I’d take to. He is looking for someone. “Is S in?” he asks me about the editor. I tell him no. So he stays, telling me he better wait as he has to talk to her about something important.

I'm polite and also smile decently, but do not encourage him. It's my first time at a proper workplace. He is asking me questions, innocuous enough but it shocks me immensely and I’m not prepared for it when he suddenly lunges at me, trying to kiss me, all the while groping me with his disgusting hands.

I can't get out of shock but I do what is required: Push him back and slap his face. I tell him to get lost and that I will complain about him. And I do.

My editor is furious and lodges a complaint with his boss (it’s the marketing section in the other building), and she tells him she never wants to see him again. He never does come. But I could not shake off that dirty feeling.

I have now become a full-fledged journalist, and coincidentally work in the same organisation where this happened.

I work with men now, although there are students and interns too in the same room, but it is divided in sections.

I sit with the men. I am the only woman there. I can sense vibes from them. Different vibes of distrust, xenophobia, chauvinism, and patronising vibes. They don’t want me, but while I'm there, why not use me?

They pass lewd comments about other women, mostly celebrities, in front of me. I ignore. Then they start making double-meaning remarks on me. They think I cannot react. One day I say “CD andar nehin ja rahi” out aloud (There was a problem with my computer). The alpha male there retorts, “Daal dete hain”.

I slam my drawer shut and turn towards him, asking what he means. He instantly backtracks. I slam the door and go outside attracting a lot of attention.

Some reporters come and ask what happened and I tell them I’d bash this guy up. Afterwards, the guy never said or did anything other than being polite to me.

I realise, that if you act like a ‘man’, and behave like one of them, they show you respect. But if you are ‘womanly’ about your responses, like complaining, they will treat you like dirt, as if ‘you didn’t know how to play’ the Game."

5) Men who are complicit

"As a freelance journalist, I spent a lot of time on the phone with government departments and would find that senior spokespeople – men – would only want to engage via text messages and not speak on the phone for comment.

There would be innuendo and requests to meet outside of work, over dinners, rather than responding to routine questions any journalist in the world would want a government department to go on the record about.

These are the casual and unwritten rules of sexual harassment in Pakistan; things are made clear without ever being stated. If you want access and contacts, woman, then play by my rules and do what I want. Be available for me when I want.

One time while working on a story on the outskirts of Peshawar – a public protest – the all male crew decided that they did not feel comfortable having me amongst them because they did not feel it was safe for me.

When I asked them why it wasn’t safe – obviously I knew, but I wanted my male colleagues to acknowledge the reasons – they said the area was crowded with men and anything could happen.

The fixer at least looked embarrassed when telling me the truth, but others also added there was a high security risk in the area due to the number of people gathered.

I said, in that case, the risk was the same for all of us and so we either worked as a team or we should leave the area and forget about reporting on the story. I stood my ground.

We worked on the story as a team and spent many hours on the ground working. I was pleased that the men felt discomfort at the way many of their fellow men were behaving around us and me in particular.

While filming in Karachi, a man who I had been in contact with to fix the story I was working on decided it was OK to ring my cell phone non-stop for days ahead of our meeting, and for days after asking me if I was alone and if I wanted company.

No is not a word these types of men like to hear or respect."

6) Disrespect from peers

"As a woman, it’s difficult to be taken seriously. It’s worse when I’m doing fieldwork. Many times it has happened that I'm covering a lifestyle event and I'm getting more unwanted attention than the celebrities attending. Maybe the men think that since I'm not a celebrity, I'm more approachable. But I'm there to work.

I once covered an event where the cameramen and reporters would ask to take pictures with me. When I'd refuse, they'd say, "At least share your personal number." I'd tell them to let me work, just like they should be, and they’d laugh it off and call me a prude.

They didn't know me, they didn't work with me, but they just wanted to invade my space and interfere in my work. I feel like if I hadn't been assertive, they’d have followed me around.

Some of them would also start the conversation asking where I work, and without even paying attention to my response, they’d proceed to lecture me on how to go about my job. They don't know me but automatically assume I'm an amateur, desperate for advice. I've been here a while. I know what I'm doing."

7) Resenting women in authority

"Even though I hold a senior position within my organisation, I'll occasionally encounter men who decide to put me down, not take me seriously or just plain harass me because I'm a woman.

Like the senior male journalist who was introducing me to a group of other journalists, and instead of using my name and title as a means of introduction, chose to introduce me as a 'bachi'.

Or the source who I was interviewing over text messages for a story who kept commenting on my Whatsapp profile picture.

Or the colleague who conveniently 'forgot' my name during a meeting despite the fact that I've worked with him for two years.

Or the writer who tried to mansplain my job to me even though I was the expert in the room, not him.

Or the other source who kept suggesting we 'grab dinner'.

While these incidents aren't physical harassment, they contribute to a culture of misogyny that makes women feel they're fighting an exhausting, constant uphill battle."


If you wish to share your own similar experiences, write to us at blog@dawn.com

Comments

atis Oct 19, 2017 05:42pm
Women also play their part in sexually exploiting men.They take cover under a smokescreen of weaker sex!
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Shahzad Ishaq Khan Oct 19, 2017 05:55pm
Respect and equal power to women at work like men will solve these problems.
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Muhammad Tahir Jamali Oct 19, 2017 05:56pm
Respect to women is must and should be part of life.
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Hassan Oct 19, 2017 06:03pm
Well why make this article sexist. Here is my story I went to XYZ mall and there was a huge crowd of ladies outside an XYZ lawn sale. It was the time when i got one of my first salaries at my job and I thought of buying something good for my mother. The door of the stores were closed and the women were about to break it open. I out of respect, trying not to touch any aunty, decided to not go for the main door and waited alongside of that rush. The store people out of nowhere opened a side door at which I was leaning at and (not so luckily) was the first person to get in. All of a sudden the crowd broke in from everywhere and it was a battle ground. I was physically abused, scratched with nails, my body was being touched with the other parts of the crowd and they cared the least. I was embarrassed and was loudly apologizing every lady whom I was being touched with. Suddenly I took a breath and forced myself out. Since that day I am afraid of these aunties. # metoo
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Farrukh Hussain Oct 19, 2017 06:22pm
Bol k labb aazaad Heinz tere!!!
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dawny Oct 19, 2017 06:26pm
You go off limits on your dresses and pictures then why you complaint
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uzi Oct 19, 2017 06:30pm
One time, when I was working in Karachi for a foreign bank, a senior manager came very close to my face and said something that just froze me. I was young. I wish I had the guts to tell him how ugly he was (because of his character).
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Ehsan Oct 19, 2017 07:01pm
Women have to claim their space.
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sad Oct 19, 2017 07:26pm
@Hassan .. you made me laugh so hard.. :D i was a kid 13-15 years ago.. used to go with my mom in a community bus, mostly for ladies.. in ladies section i had to remain stand up in that crowded bus with aunties.. i remember i used to be tossed around when i was only the size upto their waist. .. #metoo
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N_Saq Oct 19, 2017 07:27pm
We always have a choice so make the right choices.
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M. Emad Oct 19, 2017 07:48pm
According to one study, about 70% Pakistani girls are subject to workplace harassment.
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Ehsan Oct 19, 2017 07:50pm
Ladies you have to fight for rights and claim your space
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Anonymous Oct 19, 2017 08:29pm
women experience harrasmemt in all cultures, I live in Canada and many times stalked by white guy. Who continued to whistle on me, although i was decently dressed. There are many other incidents that happened to me. But again not all men are perverts.
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Shaheen Oct 19, 2017 08:33pm
When I was at my first job my senior manager who was a woman used to treat me like a work house and made me stay late at office while she always left on time. She made me skip lunch breaks whil she and her friends had theirs. She made me go to office on weekends too "because i am a man" and never came herself on weekends. She exploited me, made me work like a machine but took all the credit and I had no option but to leave that job. Me too!
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Indian Oct 19, 2017 08:40pm
Sadly, this is not unique to Pakistani women alone. It's common in most Asian countries, African countries and in few work places in US. Hopefully, when men start seeing women as their equals and friends then this stops
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Arif Oct 19, 2017 08:57pm
@dawny What a disgusting thing to say. As if women who wear a burqa are never catcalled or harassed or abused?
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Khizr Oct 19, 2017 09:30pm
@Hassan It was not about you, It was this passion for the new lawn. :) Hope you can recover from this fear of lawn-madness aunties (buy online next time).
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Moth Oct 19, 2017 09:48pm
In next 60 years all such things will go away. No sexually harassment at all. The whole social setup will change. Just follow free market fundamentals of supply and demand and all this such evils associated human to human will dissipate.
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abbottonian 43 Oct 19, 2017 10:18pm
As a Man I would suggest the following lines are really effective in their aplicability in case a woman faces sexuaI harassment by a man "I realise, that if you act like a ‘man’, and behave like one of them, they show you respect. But if you are ‘womanly’ about your responses, like complaining, they will treat you like dirt, as if ‘you didn’t know how to play’ the Game."... "
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Nasser Oct 19, 2017 11:17pm
All this is nothing new, especially in a male-dominated society. The real question is that why do Pakistani females generally only play the victim? Does Islam not require the victim to stand up to the agressor and fight back - to the extent he/she really can? If you do not do so, then you are yourself also a wrong-doer because you are "encouraging" the pertpetrators to behave the way they do as they know that there is no or little risk for them and they even carry on adding more victims. A serious dressing down in front of others will do the trick in most cases. Yes, of course, it is not easy. But this is life; face it and fight back. Victimisation takes many forms. Only in socities where they (men & women) fight back, do you get a decent society. "Do not bring me problems, bring me solutions", as they say.
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Dervaish Khan Oct 19, 2017 11:23pm
Man approaching a woman is a natural phenomenon. That's a basic instinct. After all, a man too is an animal. This is another thing that it has got socialized and under the influence of religion has reserved himself for modesty.
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Rida Oct 19, 2017 11:34pm
@Hassan sadly you were there at a wrong time when the aunties are drooling for sale ! They don't even recognize their own children at that time
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Pakistani by heart Oct 19, 2017 11:35pm
@dawny I am a hijab and niqab wearing working woman in a sacred profession. My actions and dress are completely according to Islamic code .. yet I was harassed by a senior at my work place . I was shocked and disgusted . I went home, discussed the event with my husband , and v made his action public without fearing damage to my career. He never spoke to me again . But let me tell you I know many hijab clad woman who are totally innocent and who are harassed by men . Every one is answerable to their own actions .
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Ammad Oct 19, 2017 11:39pm
Playing women card always... what about all the males who get mentally and morally abused everyday by powerful owners n people where they work
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Changez Khan Oct 19, 2017 11:40pm
It's shame how men take advantage of women. They should always keep in mind somewhere somebody may be doing same with their sister/daughter/wife.
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Maz Oct 19, 2017 11:42pm
It is a shame that we in a country which is founded on moral values had to put up with kind of nonsense. The Media people is on an smear campaign against what we stand for and why our parents sacrificed. The people who are writing these stories are part of the problem. Women will get respect when they will follow the true practices in what we believe. Our system and values are the only place where women truly enjoy the respect and freedom to be a women. The problem is that we think what is happening in the powerful societies we need to follow it bhlindly
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Farhan Khan Oct 19, 2017 11:52pm
@dawny so all women should be in desert clothes?
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Jamil Soomro, New York City Oct 19, 2017 11:54pm
@M. Emad Bengali girls are not harassed by anyone because they wear Saris in Dacca and Calcutta? Study shows harassment 0% ?
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Jeev Oct 20, 2017 12:07am
No doubt the harassment of women at workplace is common across all countries and cultures to a varying degree. But aren't there smart ambitious women in every organization who flirt with their bosses and peers to extract favours and even promotions and desired postings? The way forward is for women to react immediately and report. No point complaining years later.
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your sister Oct 20, 2017 12:09am
@dawny When and if you have a daughter one day, please dress her in burqa and ask her at the end of the day that whether she was harassed or not, maybe she will tell you something new!
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Theek Oct 20, 2017 12:17am
Genuine cases of female sexual abuse should be immediately reported and investigated. However many women willingly cohort with a powerful or rich man, so that their careers can take off like a rocket and which could make them rich and famous too. After 20 or 30 years, these hags complain of sexual harrasment. They all sing the same tune, that they didn't come forward earlier because they were afraid !
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Hina Oct 20, 2017 12:28am
@dawny Nothing gives anybody the right to exploit. It is not the divine tlright of men to do what they please to other women if they do not dress the way ‘you’ want them to
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Gia Oct 20, 2017 12:29am
@dawny the dress doesnt have to b the reason to suffer this kinda of abuses...theres also women whos dress in a humble way and suffers the same . i guess its time to give respect to every woman and mostly to teach kids to respect sisters and girls...
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Sarmad Hassan Oct 20, 2017 12:29am
Women need freedom, so called freedom of their own wishes, after acquiring this so called open and precious freedom, an announcement is heard "Me too", Me too, Me too". Go to hell. If you can not defend your self then you must not astray people by saying Me too.
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S.A.Khan Oct 20, 2017 01:02am
@atis Your comment is absurd
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Tamza Oct 20, 2017 01:17am
As many have written [males] females 'lead on' the males and things progress from professional talk, to slight unrelated talk, to flirting, to more. All is consensual. Then the man loses interest -- and the woman complains. VERY common. Men often shake hands, or hold hands or even hug - in the work environment. Should they not do the same with women that would be 'discrimination'. Cant win. What will happen is women will get more sidelined because men [managers] will become more afraid of such actions. The change must happen in SOCIETY, cannot be just in the work environment. People lose opportunity because they are dark or short or different 'tabka' or religion or nationality etc. or gender.
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REAL_M.EMAD Oct 20, 2017 01:33am
Just to clarify I was referring to East Pakistan
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sam Oct 20, 2017 01:48am
Almost every man indulge in this act. No matter which age. Either physical or non physical harassment. Unfortunately there is no solution except women cover them complete in burka . may b this way men spare them.
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hyat Oct 20, 2017 02:07am
be realistic when women is working in a mix environment in all kind of people then who you guys to blame?men naturally predator and women is prey for him when she is alone in a all sort of dressing. i dont support predator type of men but its a fact. women must realized when start career with mix environment and get training.
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Saeeds Oct 20, 2017 02:21am
@dawny You are the reason behind this imbecility.
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Khan Oct 20, 2017 02:22am
Moral codes must be followed. Its the morality we are lacking. Who teaches morality these days?
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Amarnath Oct 20, 2017 02:35am
"Every industry, in every country, has its own Weinsteins" Whoever the author of this blog piece is, such wide generalization hits your reasoning credibility
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Saad Oct 20, 2017 02:54am
@atis very true
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Saad Oct 20, 2017 02:56am
@dawny doing same stuff in the name of so called “romantic relationship” then it’s no problem coz it’s consensual.
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Saad Oct 20, 2017 02:58am
@M. Emad harrasment when done by someone they don’t like but love affair when done by someone they are in a so called relatioship. Izzat tou bik gayee in any case
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khan Oct 20, 2017 03:17am
Though these are small ones, but if we dig deep this would be worse and no one shares, because women are used as commodity and males thing if they are out to work they are desperate and available...though they have their own daughters and sisters working for Multinationals..
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white noise Oct 20, 2017 03:59am
ofcourse it occurs, it is a taboo in Pakistan for females to talk about it, but they endure it everyday and it is a shame for Pakistan that in a supposedly PAK land, a woman has to go through this, a society who does not respect or protect their women, are always doomed and history is full of such warnings. Men forget that they were given birth by a female, raised by a female, so why they turn inhuman when it comes to respect a female? Women needs to speak more and Men needs to change their attitude.
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Waheed Noor Oct 20, 2017 04:39am
@Hassan Calling them 'Aunties' shows how disrespectful you are. Learn some manners, bro.
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Waheed Noor Oct 20, 2017 04:41am
@Shaheen She is just a bad manger. It has nothing to do with sex. For every 1 woman manager who is bad there are ten men managers who are equally bad.
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anonymouseeee Oct 20, 2017 05:04am
After reading this article, why do I have this feeling that most of the stuff here is made up.
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worthless wealth Oct 20, 2017 05:57am
Political culture of Pakistan is responsible for all the ills and woes Pakistan is facing! There is a very little hope that it would ever change for better! Women will have to fight their own battle! The only condition is that, they stand together and do not fall victims to name and fame; which of course would be temporary!
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saqib ghumman Oct 20, 2017 07:19am
That's the number one reason they get job quicker than men and progress rapidly on fast track to promotion etc.
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Abdul jabbar Oct 20, 2017 07:41am
@Shahzad Ishaq Khan jahalat, man and women can never were never are and never will be equall
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Abdul jabbar Oct 20, 2017 07:45am
@Anonymous that is an universal truth
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Diplodocus Oct 20, 2017 08:08am
These stories recount disgusting behaviour. Every organisation must have a safe and private mechanism to shield their workers from such situations. This is about basic human decency first. And abt clithes and provocation, why is it so easy for men to forget all that their moms, families, religion may hv taught as soon as they come across a female form? If you are tempted by a moving object, please control YOURself. Please give up the classic childish reason 'she made me do it!'
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Bahar alu Oct 20, 2017 08:32am
Yes, accepted.. there is existing women sexual assult. But i think both men and women are responisble for that. . Men not being implanted with fundamentals of qurhan in true way would definitly posit socially corrupt behaviour. . Women who walks out in a fashionatly exposed way increase the probability of sexual assult because such greatly attract the attention of men. ...... even the statistic show the same result. every day 2 out of 5 women go outside, looking for either job or any other activity .....
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Khurram Khan Oct 20, 2017 09:07am
I believe the truthiness in this blog but I also believe that it is widely exaggerated.
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faseehullah Oct 20, 2017 10:11am
My story. When i was in School I hear two girls whispering about me" He is beautiful". one of them came to me many times for an excuse " plz lend me your calculator" " do u have any extra pencil?' What is this? I mean girls should respect boys too. Boys are harassed in many places by girls. Society should do something for such culprit girls and stop them from targeting innocent souls :P
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boby Oct 20, 2017 10:29am
These are very one sided stories. Men are also harassed by women. My colleague at my previous workplace touched me inappropriately many times. But if a had done the same i would have been the PERVERT but since she was a lady, she got away with that. One of my current colleague also invades my space very regularly and its fine with everybody because she is a female and i am male?
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basit Oct 20, 2017 10:32am
@Hassan Hahahahaha bro nailed it
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sam Oct 20, 2017 10:33am
I guess 60% of cause is due to men but remaining 40% by women. I have seen so many places, girls projecting their private body and behavior as well.
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Peer Muhammad Oct 20, 2017 10:36am
@Hassan it has happened many times with me as well these aunties r so annoying they don't care who they r touching to and that is why they take it normal sometimes it is a compulsion if it is crowd what else can be done some will try to pick your poket if you don't act smart especially in crowded place....
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analyses Oct 20, 2017 10:48am
First story is unfortunately too common in our society...be it a shrine, malls, market, road, buses, women are touched wherever men have some opportunity. Doesn't matter what they wear, even a burqa won't save them. However the second story is really shocking. How can you jerk off in an office while asking a female in your room? It's like Weinstein himself! The other stories seem to just add the numbers in the article as there are much much more shocking stories (like the 2nd one) which women experience in workplace!
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Saedul Oct 20, 2017 10:55am
In my openion it depend on girl power with confidence around in an any job sector to face confidently to any man, In our Islam the Women should be act like a rude with an anonymous Man. If the girl is powerfull by his vioce as well as by his own character so nobody will get harass or other i would like to say should ingnore Ridiculous person. if someone wanna Harass you or call You so in the mobile the option "BLOCK "is available. Thanks.
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Sks Oct 20, 2017 10:58am
Men should behave and should accept, honour,givevdue respect and positipn to equal and umparalled to their male counterparts Its time to change mentality and social status fpr the fair sex At the same time pther side of coin should not be over looked START #"ME TOO" **MEN**
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Opie Oct 20, 2017 11:26am
Nice article, i actually feel they should name names, instead of keeping it so kosher.
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abbas Oct 20, 2017 11:40am
@atis Doesnt justify men attempting to harass or exploit the women. Stop blaming the victim that she brought it upon herself. This kind of mentality is the starting point of misogyny which this article is all about.
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usman Oct 20, 2017 11:42am
I found this article risque. you don't need to narrate the harassment story word by word in such a way so it become masala story instead of harassment.
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Zuhair Oct 20, 2017 11:43am
And read the most recommended comment here!! Shudder. Eyes closed. Sleep.
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Nabila Feroz Bhatti Oct 20, 2017 11:53am
Me Too. Wish equal power to women at work.
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A. A. Oct 20, 2017 12:11pm
In journalism, most of the lot is highly educated on paper, but illiterate in basic manners. In my 18 years of career in IT and Telecom industry, I have not come across such blatant abuse towards women at such a scale.
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Mrs Farooq Oct 20, 2017 12:33pm
@dawny it's not about the woman's dress.its all about abuse of physical power or social status by men using lame excuses. I have been in full puts and have still been leered at. MEN who are scum bags will not respect ANY woman regardless of dress.
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saqib ghumman Oct 20, 2017 12:57pm
There will certainly worse than what it appears here and thats almost global but worse in countries like Pakistan where might rules and every body trying to protect their 'Izatt' .. so it can never be assessed .
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Irfan marfani Oct 20, 2017 01:42pm
Treat the people with respect...!
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XYZ Oct 20, 2017 02:30pm
I was working with a reputed organization at entry level position.The country manager of the organization was trying to flirt.He used to kept asking personnel questions like "When are you getting married n bla bla" . I ignored him few times then my patience gave up. One day he came near to my seat n asked "When are you getting married"I stood up of my seat with anger and asked him "Sir ap k pass iss topic k elawa koi topic discuss krnay ko nhe??" That was too loud that my neighbor colleagues heard that. From that day i was kept on the same position with same salary for three years. This is how men at work behave with women especially young girls.
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Khawaja Oct 20, 2017 03:43pm
Let's empower our woman to see the man in eye and tell him 'Hey buddy,thats mine' , only then whining will end
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zuluz Oct 20, 2017 04:27pm
@Hassan Whats ur points?
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turtle Oct 20, 2017 04:29pm
men need to take responsibility for their actions and raise their children to respect women
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Pakistani Oct 20, 2017 05:40pm
Reprehensible conduct. Feell very sorry for these (brave) ladies. We need to deal with all forms of discrimnation and harrassment.
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Ednan Oct 20, 2017 06:27pm
Good way to share. Truth to accept. Remain safe at the rate of your luck.
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Huma Oct 20, 2017 08:40pm
The ladies specially in our society ,during work hours should be decently dressed within Islamic hijab rules in front of other coworkers.They should show serious attitude toward opposite genders. Never mixup freely with men,s community present in working place,so that others never harass u r say any comment that bothers u.
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dawny Oct 20, 2017 08:49pm
@Arif Never meant for modestly dressed women or girls please read and understand before unnecessary comments
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Zulfiqar Oct 20, 2017 09:56pm
Respect for women has to be taught from an early age. It starts at home and then school. Sorry state of affairs of our society. Companies should also have basic harassment / ethics rules posted as well as educate employees on a regular bases.
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Theek Oct 21, 2017 02:46am
@XYZ Reason you were kept in the same position for three years is probably you don't know the difference between "personal" and "personnel".
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Charu Oct 21, 2017 06:30am
@faseehullah oh come on man, so they had a crush on you...how is that harrasssment ? Did they whistle at you, touch you inappropriately, corner you
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white noise Oct 21, 2017 07:08am
@dawny there you go with your pathetic excuse of "she asked for it", so a woman does not have her freedom but you can touch and harass her and this is her fault? what a sad miserable man you are & I said what most are thinking after reading your comments.
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Rohit Oct 21, 2017 07:48am
Why blame only men. Women are equally to blame too. So many women school teachers in the USA regularly induced their male teenage students into having sex with them. Only when someone spilled the beans, was action taken against the erring teachers. I know one American male coworker who told me one of his female boss demanded cohabitation with him. Many women are gold diggers and they would lead on a man, till their aspirations are met. I have seen this illicit and adulterous behaviour initiated by married women with other men
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Akit Oct 21, 2017 08:02am
Ab Ho Gaya....why go in the past ? ...this is part and parcel of life...Men away from wives are "wicked bachelors"- . !
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human being Oct 21, 2017 08:21am
@waqas women also belong to the outside world - in some cases as rightly deserved by you, to make a sandwich of you
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human being Oct 21, 2017 08:24am
@gt : false claims. sexual harassment is rampant in all asian societies.
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mohammed cohen Oct 21, 2017 08:26am
What a disgrace of a country's ideology or lack of it! America is caught up with newly drum beat of sexual harassment so Pakistani news media decided to do the same as a new fad! Why doesn't Pakistani media try to elevate Pakistan's own moral and ethical values instead of going crazy on America's every shifting fads and fashion. Who in Pakistan is not aware of the fact that there is an open harassment of females in Pakistan. I remember growing up in Karachi and not a single day went by when a female did not get harassed or taunted by the whistle blowing ghunda males in each and every segment of Pakistani culture! So why jump on this westernized fad that Pakistan has so willingly and shamelessly adopted over night? Because America is talking about so Pakistan also must! What a disgraceful act of total brown nosing of the West!
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asad Oct 21, 2017 09:39am
These things will continue to be part of society if women do not abide by islamic values.
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KHAN SAAB Oct 21, 2017 09:51am
METOO!! when i was sexually abused by my female boss.. even i wanted to complain but i couldnt because i needed that job and she exploited me for more than two years.. so its not male who are abusing its the misogyny mindset, sick people and ill-mannered that are using their powers to abuse the weaker.
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El Cid Oct 21, 2017 10:29am
Can not happen without covert signals from the women.
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Naveeda Oct 21, 2017 01:23pm
To all the males who are making fun of these incidences, we know there are men out there who would protect women-of-dignity and let women enjoy who want to. There are people with (different, lets say lewd) preferences on both sides. Those people have their own lifestyle, and I would say that's not misogyny when you are harrased sexually because our ethics in the society have weakened, let alone the gender discrimination. Not every man is a sexist, and not every woman wants it. Woman get sexually harassed, and those section of men also exist. So dont mix up, punish those who attack sexually, and do not harass the one who has been sexually harassed. Thanks.
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Zombieslayer Oct 21, 2017 03:02pm
@dawny And who gave you the right to harrass women just because they dress a certain way?
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Jalbani baloch Oct 21, 2017 08:33pm
Women are object of beauty, so it is natural where there is sugar, there will be flies. Only two choices either stay at home or be bold and confident to face such situations courageously and without compromises.
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akram Oct 21, 2017 09:43pm
@dawny get used to it, this is battle you and the dinosaurs like you are going to lose. The same way your type have lost it in the developed and much of the developing world. Its only matter of time now.
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independentthinker Oct 21, 2017 10:15pm
By raising awareness, do you really think you can stop this harassment? Most ladies know full well that what they are experiencing is illegal and could be reported, but chose not to do, as they know it will hinder in their career advancement. On the domestic side, at what cost would a wife want to stand against her husband, when she is so dependent on him? It might not be politically correct to raise these points, but who could disagree with me?
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Asma Oct 22, 2017 12:39am
Many times women's outfits are so revealing that it gives impression of invitation to men. Remember the brains of men and women are differently wired!
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Ayub Oct 22, 2017 07:35am
The woman should be treated as equal human being. We should evolve a society where the woman should feel independent, courageous, brave and supper.
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Kkkk Oct 22, 2017 04:40pm
Every woman should be respected, regardless of what she is wearing or where she is working. We would never want this to happen our relatives so nobody should do it to others. In this companies girls should not get work because of their looks which is unfair too and when that happens women don't say anything about it. Which is unfair to men and other women.
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zakhta Oct 24, 2017 02:33pm
@Indian this 'equal' word has been wrongly framed when it comes to gender equality in Asian countries. Women demand equal rights, but they are the one playing 'victim's card' when they want the society to single out a respectable man. I ask you where is equality then, why people show support for these kind of women without a proof? And why the society never supports a man against a woman?
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zakhta Oct 24, 2017 02:35pm
@Farrukh Hussain is this an auto-correct or intentional use of word Heinz?
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Sane Oct 25, 2017 03:47pm
Sadly it is this very media,these women serve, which objectifies women. Does it make sense to sell telecom products with women dancing? Doez it? Nowadays I am seeing a woman in green attire flying me a kiss 'selling' a telco's bandwidth on large billboards in the city. We also witness see women caressing man's cheeks to certify a close shave. What does it lead to? What are women for, except being the object of man's desire.
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