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People waste no opportunity to tear down women in Pakistan, says Shehzad Roy and we agree

People waste no opportunity to tear down women in Pakistan, says Shehzad Roy and we agree

We list seven women who have been slut-shamed and bullied for either their achievements... or no reason at all.
Updated 27 Mar, 2019

Mehwish Hayat's Tamgha-i-Imtiaz honour has caused a ruckus online and Shehzad Roy is here to share an insight into why that is:

"People waste no opportunity to tear down the arts and women in Pakistan. So of course, if a woman wins an award in the arts, all hell would break loose," tweeted the singer.

We wish we could disagree with this statement, but unfortunately, it is true. Looking back at the last few years, there are plenty examples of Pakistani women, stars and otherwise, being torn down for their achievements or even just because. We present to you 7 such cases.

Case #1: The female PIA pilots who became the first female crew to land a plane in Gilgit

Captain Maryam Masood and First Officer Shumaila Mazhar of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) became the first women to fly an aircraft via the difficult Islamabad-Gilgit route.

"Our dynamic duo, Captain Maryam Masood and First Officer Shumaila Mazhar, make it look so easy as they fly through the mountains celebrating the beauty of our northern areas! Way to go!!” PIA said on Twitter. A route which is known to be "very challenging and requires a lot of precision and technique," the airline added.

But of course, their achievement gathered ridicule and anger from some:

Also read: 5 ridiculous responses to female PIA pilots flying to Gilgit

Case #2: Mahira Khan wearing a dress and smoking

When pictures of Mahira Khan and Ranbir Kapoor surfaced, internet trolls began shaming the Pakistani actor for wearing a dress and fraternising with an Indian actor with a cigarette in hand.

Thankfully, the film fraternity in Pakistan umped in to defend her. As a whole, these celebrities can teach us a thing or two about responding to trolls.

Also read: Let these desi celebrities show you how to silence Mahira haters

Case #3: Men trying to beat Pakistan's fastest woman Naseem Hameed's record

Naseem Hameed has an impressive record time of 11.81 seconds for a 100 meter race and for some men that's a little hard to digest - because, well, the inflated male ego.

When UN Women Pakistan approached men and asked them to beat Naseem's record as part of their #BeatMe campaign, the men's uppish attitude was one to applaud, their attempt, not so much. "Yes. I can do it. It's easy," one said. "I can do it in 10 seconds, or even 8", except that nobody came close to her record, let alone beat it.

Also read: Men try to beat Naseem Hameed's running record in this video and fail miserably

Case #4: Saba Qamar snapped without her consent during hair and make-up

The actor was in hair and make-up when someone snapped a photo of her without her consent and posted it on social media - where it went viral and was the beginning of name-calling, bashing and slut shaming.

Local celebs, however, sick and tired of this tirade against their female counterparts stood up for Saba, oneof them was actor Aijaz Aslam who posted, "Today I feel sad that a colleague and one of the finest actor of Pakistan is being exploited by someone for a cheap publicity stunt. It's disgusting that people can go to any extent for cheap publicity... Saba you are a superstar and don’t let these haters demotivate you."

Also read: Celebs stand in support of Saba Qamar against online trolls

Case #5: The woman who couldn't honeymoon with her husband

Huma Mobin was devastated when her husband Arsalaan's Schengen visa got rejected for their second honeymoon/family trip - the green passport curse. However, she decided to make the best of a bad situation and soldiered through while also sharing photos with a sad face and one hanging in the air to show just how much she missed her husband.

That was enough for some to shame her for her clothes and choosing to go on the trip without her husband.

Also read: Meet the Pakistani woman who honeymoon'd alone after her husband's visa got rejected

Case #6: Malala for wearing... jeans

Let alone the fact that Malala is ripped to shreds on a daily basis by Pakistanis for just existing, but even the act of her in jeans causes cultural anxiety and she immediately became the target of hate and moral policing.

Nevertheless, Malala deserves applause for continuing to stand tall, above and beyond the country’s patriarchal mindset, wherever she goes.

Also read: Relax, Malala's jeans aren't an assault on your national identity

Case #7: Qandeel Baloch for owning her sexuality

Qandeel Baloch was a social media sensation; people watched her videos and hated on her, they followed her and slut-shamed her, yet her fan following only increased. They liked what they saw, but they couldn't stand a woman owning her sexuality and not lending an ear to the hate.

From the comments that appeared under her posts, young men wanted to be with her; they also wanted to snuff her out. Young women were horrified by her 'immodesty'; they also lauded her for doing exactly as she pleased.

Ultimately, she was killed by her own brother for 'dishonouring' the family. But her murder proved that if you're a woman in Pakistan, ambition can get you killed.

Also read: Qandeel Baloch is dead because we hate women who don't conform

Comments

NA NA Mar 27, 2019 01:16pm
Respect for the ladies, the writer ,the article and Dawn Herald from bottom of heart.
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Tahir saleem Mar 27, 2019 01:32pm
it's a patriarchal view, which represents the overall response of our society towards women. We always criticize the success of women being Powerful MAN In our country, honor killings, gender bias and misogyny are getting popularity and practiced by many influential of society. Mehwish Hayat must be given full support as she is projecting the soft image of our society.
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Jehengir khan Mar 27, 2019 02:10pm
True......women are treated as slaves in our society....education is only way to spread general awareness and women empowerment.....
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AJ Mar 27, 2019 03:10pm
Absolutely agree with the way women in Pakistan are treated. However, calling out celebrities for promoting certain values for monetary reasons is not problematic. Similarly, criticizing someone unworthy for a prestigious award is not controversial.
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ajab singh Mar 27, 2019 03:16pm
I dont know how many years these Muslims nation will take to give equality to their moms, sisters and their ladies at home
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vinod katarya Mar 27, 2019 03:17pm
True, men in our society want educated girl for kitchen to cook delicious food for whole family.
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Haaris Ali Mar 27, 2019 04:20pm
Seriously, why do Pakistani men have inflated egos???
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Laila Mar 27, 2019 05:05pm
So true. Our women on social media especially female celebrities get attacked, denigrated, called the vilest names, equated to escort girls and kafirs, just because they wear what they want. Western clothing, a little belly skin get all misogynist trolls blood boiling. I wonder why other Muslims Arab, Turks, Kurds, etc don't do the same. On the contrary they lift their females and support them instead of calling their women Beghairet, asking them to go naked, commenting on them sexually etc. Why can't we be like that?
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Bakhtawer Bilal Mar 27, 2019 05:54pm
@Jehengir khan Education, yes; but not the education you get by getting a degree. Most of the worst mindsets have University degrees.
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Tahir Raouf Mar 27, 2019 05:56pm
Matter is not for respect or hate, it is all about the contribution to the nation
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Aisha Khan Mar 27, 2019 06:13pm
Men get upset if they can't control women and what they do, or if women are better than them in a field. It impacts on their masculinity. I am very successful compared to the vast majority of men in my community, but you will never hear them acknowledge this fact never mind applaud or celebrate it. I find men to be of less able and capable than women on the whole , oh and they constantly need their egos massaging!!!
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Sohail Mar 27, 2019 06:31pm
Meanings of respect are inferred from ideology and that is why there are different opinions. Worst thing is when we believe in one ideology but don't know what it is and try to mold it to our satisfaction.
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Ali Sabir Mar 27, 2019 07:28pm
We are a tribal people.
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Tunda Thakur Mar 27, 2019 08:50pm
Excellent article. To all the women out there who are trying to make a difference. You Go Girl. Show them what you are cable of and ignore the trolls. They have nothing better to do.
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Prapur Mar 27, 2019 09:20pm
Need major change in thinking of Pakistani male. Education may help. Let all avenues be opened for girls and women. Women are close to 50% and men are incomplete without them. Let both be treated equal in society else daughters won’t be safe. Women are not sex object or just to cook and please men, they are human first.
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AJ Mar 27, 2019 09:33pm
Shehzad Roy is conflating two issues. One issue, as rightly pointed out by Roy, is that women are oppressed especially in uneducated and impoverished households. However, the issue under consideration here is doling out awards to undeserving and unworthy people regardless of their gender, ethnicity, etc. MH didn't deserve that award and people have the right to criticize the awarding authorities.
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Naeem Mar 28, 2019 12:47am
People love to judge others especially if other is a 'woman'. Men in our society have an inherent fear of losing to women. These men need to man-up to accept women's achievement.
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Abbas Khan Mar 28, 2019 01:07am
Look it is not about Mehwish's talent or whatever, it is about the nature of award that should not be given to tv/film artists and I mean any Male or female artist. The fault lies with the Government,., these types of awards shouldn't be for entertaining Industry. For the sake of recognizing tv/film artists, Lollywood or red carpet TV awards are enough.
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N abidai Mar 28, 2019 04:59am
Great for shazad to make this statement ,now bring up other male friends and young men, following in your steps , in respecting women, and defending ,injustice ,in real time!
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QAP Mar 28, 2019 05:57am
Absolutely true and unforgivable. Pakistan must change for better.
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Asif Ali Mar 28, 2019 08:36am
Because they are human beings, will react.
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Arshad Mar 28, 2019 08:43am
Agreed. Women are subjected to much more scrutiny and doubted or ridiculed for their accomplishments. Too much misogyny in society.
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Advocate Saira Ahmad Mar 28, 2019 12:28pm
There is no war between men and women .But unfortunately such things exist in our society.Its depends our moral values.Thats why messes target Malala for her dressing.Patriotism start when a person born in a country.There is no need to prove it.And heart of a patriot bleeds when he/she called a traitor or dishonest.This type of abuse is sufficient to kill a persons heart and sole.The only solution is just ignore such people.When Law,when Constitution protects women rights so the tag feminism is useless.But Pakistani customs some bad customs due to living Hindus create fedudal thoughts.It is too easy to change law by amendment but developing good customs is far more difficult.For example FATA merger and enforcing same Law protection that we have take time go brought people and changing their mindset to bring them back and widen their thoughts .
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Laila Mar 28, 2019 03:23pm
@Tahir Raouf It is about disrespect and misogyny. Whether you like somebody contribution to the nation or not, you have no right to call them denigrative or sexual names. Read the article. It is about the misogyny which is rampant in our country. We don't respect our women. If we did we would not treat them like this. Wake up.
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Laila Mar 28, 2019 03:27pm
@Abbas Khan The fault lies with thosebots who will forever remain boys and misogynists because their mothers and fathers did not raise them well or teach them how to rsoect women. You don't like her getting an award? Fine criticize THAT. You don't call anybody daughter names and suggest she slept her way to the top. That's personally attacking her, not her work. Stop justifying misogyny.
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Abbas Khan Mar 29, 2019 08:48am
@Laila What are you talking about. I am not saying any of that. Read my comments again. All the power to Mewish Hayat and her great acting talent. All I am saying that National prestige awards shouldn't be reserved for film/music artists and what not either for MEN (read men again) or Women. I understand this is not her fault because she was selected for it and thats why I said its Govt or selecting committee is at fault. Of course Mehwish deserves appreciation of her acting talent and for that filmfare or Lollywood or red carpet ceremony should be good enough.
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joe Mar 29, 2019 11:26am
Pakistani Men are STONE AGES Illiterate Backward people
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