Images

Where are all the women in Pakistan? asks foreign vlogger Alyne Tamir

Where are all the women in Pakistan? asks foreign vlogger Alyne Tamir

While she makes some pertinent points in the video, her one-sided argument borders on harbouring a 'saviour complex'.
Updated 24 Jan, 2020

An American-Israeli traveller and vlogger Alyne Tamir, known by her social media handle, Dear Alyne, recently posted a video on YouTube about the conspicuous absence of women in public spaces in Pakistan.

Narrated by Tamir, the video titled 'Where are all the women?', also features 'modern' Pakistani girls talking about issues that keep them from assimilating into public spaces, the obstacles they face when finding educational opportunities and experiencing general safety and freedom in society.

Alyne starts the video with a disclaimer that she may say something wrong, but the message [in the video] and intention remain the same, followed by, "I was just in a country and I noticed something unusual outside on the streets, almost everyone I saw, were men."

She continues, "And when I saw all of this, I couldn't help myself but ask: Where are the women?" She said that while her truth includes thinking men and women are equal to each other "in intelligence, capability and in worth," but this, unfortunately, is not the reality in many countries around the world, especially in Pakistan in this case, where women are not given the same safety opportunities and freedoms as men.

While she makes some pertinent points in the video, we think her one-sided argument borders on harbouring a 'saviour complex', a phenomenon where foreigners—mostly white— feel it's their moral responsibility to 'liberate' natives—In this case brown— from self-imposed [and avoidable] oppression.

Luckily, there were some Pakistani voices chiming in. Gul Jabeen, better known as @travelwithgul on Instagram, posted a series of messages on her account's story calling the view out for what it was.

*Screenshots of Gul Jabeen's Instagram story*
Screenshots of Gul Jabeen's Instagram story

A recent Forbes article recently included Pakistan in its The Not Hot List: 10 Best Under-the-Radar Trips for 2020. And while there's no doubt that Pakistan has unparalleled scenic beauty coupled with unmatched hospitality of its people, no one—native or foreign— has ever gone as far as to gloss over the many unique challenges the country faces.

But by only highlighting one side, the vlogger discounts generations of women who have fought hard for the freedoms many of us enjoy today. She ignores the strides women have made not only in different fields and industries but in how they've slowly pushed back against a society oppressive towards women.

Not only that, but in a culturally diverse country inhabited by dynamic communities—habits, lifestyles and even mindsets vary from street to neighbourhoods. Which means a sample population of five girls is evidently not enough to make generalisations bereft of nuances.

It's odd that there are only two opinions of Pakistan from travel bloggers, both one-dimensional; that either the country is extremely safe and problem-free or that it's successfully oppressing its women. While we appreciate any help in raising awareness, a blog from a first-time visitor doesn't cut it.

Read: Another foreign traveller is in Pakistan and she wants you to know our country is 'safe'

While no one is denying that Pakistani women have a long way to go to in order to change everyday discrimination experienced on the basis of their gender, what is often not emphasised enough, is that 'we the women' can, and have been fighting our own battles—whether inside the house or outside its walls. It's best to acknowledge that than make superficial incomplete statements.

Comments

Sourav Ghosh Jan 24, 2020 11:57am
Denying will not solve the situation .. it is a problem across many countries but acceptance is step one to resolution
Recommend
Parvez Jan 24, 2020 12:12pm
Just denying what she says simply strengthens her observation ...... a logical learned response should be given and not ' cherry picked ' items from here and there to justify her being wrong. If we are truthful enough we will accept that as an observer she has made a hasty but valid observation .
Recommend
sheikh Jan 24, 2020 12:39pm
What nonsense is this ? Most of this are lies
Recommend
Random Indian Jan 24, 2020 12:40pm
Of course the women are there somewhere. That is not the question. Why are they not freely moving about in public, as they do in most other countries, that is the question.
Recommend
Arsalan Jan 24, 2020 12:42pm
She's totally right. Lets not get offended because the truth makes us uncomfortable.
Recommend
Jahan Ara Jan 24, 2020 12:44pm
Thanks Gul Jabeen for stating the facts. Of course Security situation isn’t highly favourable but it’s completely wrong to say that women are missing from the working class or as if completely absent. Bloggers use these tactics to get attention.
Recommend
Daskalos Jan 24, 2020 01:14pm
It's a fashion trends nowadays for foreigners to preach to us about everything from women's rights to how to cook .
Recommend
Safi Jan 24, 2020 01:26pm
Try not to get defensive. Visitor made an observation. Stay away from anecdotal evidence. When it comes to overall population of Pakistan, percentage of women with education and women in the work force is extremely low. You see that on any street corner, streets are full of men, few women on way to work during rush hour. First time visitors get shocked by it, “Where are the women“ they say.
Recommend
sarah1 Jan 24, 2020 01:53pm
Getting all defensive, eh?
Recommend
Chandrakant Shah Jan 24, 2020 01:54pm
@sheikh Obviously you don’t like the truth
Recommend
Salman Hasan Jan 24, 2020 01:59pm
Very true. Public spaces in Pakistani cities have almost no women. Very unnatural and sick society
Recommend
shahid Jan 24, 2020 02:14pm
most women would have commented if this is real.
Recommend
Cris Dan Jan 24, 2020 02:36pm
@Arsalan exactly.
Recommend
Cris Dan Jan 24, 2020 02:43pm
@Jahan Ara Gul Jabeen is simply wrong. I visited my home country Pakistan after 25 years. I found all streets,roads and places full of men only. Ladies were seen either in the shops or inside """decent"" restaurents and with men. I did not see any lady alone sitting on some table in restaurent and enjoying her food by herself. I did not see women walking freely on roads. Men walk .yes I saw them in morning walk. I did NOT see any woman by herself on some early morning walk. Gul Jabeen has a poor observation and I must add that pakistani women like Gul Jabeen are responsible that male chauvinism is not condemned in the civil set up in Pakistan.
Recommend
Rubi Jan 24, 2020 02:53pm
The video wasn't as critical as the article made me think it would be - relatively nuanced and contributions by real people describing the issue.
Recommend
sumbal gillani Jan 24, 2020 03:02pm
She is right though. Women are really excluded from urban space in Pakistan. Ask yourself if you can hang out solitarily with purposeless abandon like a man can in any city of Pakistan? Honestly give a reply to this question without getting emotional. I think you will reach the same conclusions as this vlogger. Your ideas about white saviour complex are valid but are we really expecting nuance from people like Tamir and her boyfriend who have capitalized on our short attention spans. I do like her honesty though; unlike other Western bloggers in Pakistan, (with the exception of Alex) she has atleast tried to generate discussion regarding who has natural rights to the city.
Recommend
M. Saeed Jan 24, 2020 03:20pm
Almost 50% of us are women but only 7% of them are in the visible areas. There is definitely a serious flaw in integrating women in our system. This is despite the fact that, in education, females are much ahead of male students, since long.
Recommend
Andleeb Jan 24, 2020 04:46pm
I have lived and studied in the US, UK and Egypt. And in the cities and villages of Pakistan. My experience is that a woman is safest, most protected and respected in Pakistan.
Recommend
Sam Jan 24, 2020 05:13pm
I totally agree with her! In most other countries, including many Muslim countries, you see women everywhere. Please allow women to move about Pakistan without fear, harrassment and with freedom!
Recommend
MG Jan 24, 2020 05:41pm
It is totally different situation in India. You can see women working everywhere....I can even see them working from space technology to small hotels cash counter
Recommend
Zich Jan 24, 2020 05:59pm
@Rubi fruit for thought, yes indeed
Recommend
Tony Soprano Jan 24, 2020 06:58pm
Seems like a genuine travel vlogger and not a fake paid one like a few we've seen recently.
Recommend
Cris Dan Jan 24, 2020 07:08pm
@Daskalos so you do not wish to know the truth and wish to keep on living in a cave.
Recommend
Ibrahim S Jan 24, 2020 07:11pm
@sheikh my sympathies to girls and women in your house.
Recommend
Zeeshan Ahmed Jan 24, 2020 07:49pm
I'm not sure what she is talking about, I see women everywhere all the time in Pakistan. There is a traditional family structure where most households have men working and women running the home, hence the probable cause for now 'seeing' them at times. But taking any drive in the evenings across major markets in places like Lahore or Karachi shows women out and about with their families.
Recommend
Talha Jan 24, 2020 08:31pm
I don't know which Pakistan she ws talking about but in the Pakistan I live women generally outnumber men in markets like Tariq Road, Qurtaba Market, Ashiyana and numerous malls across Pakistan. Even in your workforce women are actively participating. If Careem or Uber could share their data, the ill-informed or agenda-driven people would realize that more women use these ride hailing services than men. Sad attempt at propaganda. Perhaps she was funded to fulfill someone's evil agenda or maybe she was just ill-informed. I am not saying the situation is perfect for women. There is great room for improvement but this is also true for how women are treated globally
Recommend
Vijay B Jan 24, 2020 09:17pm
Beautiful women in public places is part of any coutry's landscape, and we know pakistni women have their own brand of beauty. i would not want to visit a country where there are few or no women on the streets. that much for enhancing your tourist trade. In india there areas many Muslim women on the streets sans hijab, naqab or burqa) as there are Hindu, Christian, Sikh, or Parsis intermingled, and generally there is no way to tell the difference. Pakistan needs to come out of its cave mentality of trying to keep the women indoors and hidden. Women of a country are part of its treasure trove(i definitely do not mean sex objects here) to be displayed with pride.
Recommend
Happy Jan 24, 2020 09:41pm
It's her observation. PK is still not open like other countries. Women's security is an important issue. Respect her observation because that's what you too will observe.
Recommend
Banerjee Jan 25, 2020 01:08am
Remember reading an article in Dawn few years back about a Pakistani guy visiting India. He says that most Pakistanis will be shocked as they land in India- -there are women everywhere!! Watch a Utube video about street scene in St. Petersburg. You will know what this blogger is talking about
Recommend
V'N L Jan 25, 2020 02:11am
@sheikh: What is the truth, then?
Recommend
V'N L Jan 25, 2020 02:15am
@Daskalos: Not true! Foreigners see that females are not free to be themselves in the open! Or, how about a token female motor cycle conquerer not the world? Equality of genders needs to come off the pages and into the real world!
Recommend
V'N L Jan 25, 2020 02:18am
@Salman Hasan ; However, more Pakistani girls than boys are getting tertiary education! That is not safe for young women or the economy --or even the male machismo---or how life later!
Recommend
V'N L Jan 25, 2020 02:21am
@M. Saeed : Great point of fact!
Recommend
Faisal Jan 25, 2020 02:22am
That's what I feel every time I watch a YouTube video about the cities in Pakistan, where are all the women?
Recommend
Rob Jan 25, 2020 02:23am
Don't worry. Whenever women do get out in Islamic countries, especially if they are on a motorcycle, your will read it in the newspapers, replete with how amazingly liberating the subject woman felt!
Recommend
Jennifer Jan 25, 2020 03:22am
it is very hypocritical for a western journalist to say where are the women when in western countries, they deliberately isolate, exclude women of colour which includes Pakistani women from mainstream society. Western culture rampantly bullies women of colour so very hypocritical to focus on where are the women in Pakistan when in western mainstream society only white women are seen and heard who maintain the white supremacy and any token diverse person is an Indian Hindu person living in the west. Very political and the post can be seen political too.
Recommend
Andaleeb Jan 25, 2020 03:59am
Might be a sunny day which women avoid to go out in pakistan also since there is always a male errand runner to do out of the home stuff.
Recommend
Khan in Chandler Jan 25, 2020 04:14am
ask a Pakistani woman. My wife who lives in US and lives in Chandler AZ, and she is one strong headed beautiful Pakistani woman or my sister who is an instructor or my nieces...Pakistani women are a hidden jewel, just need to find them.
Recommend
Dang! Jan 25, 2020 06:15am
Perhaps she din go to the shopping malls.
Recommend
Anil sahu Jan 25, 2020 07:07am
Why denying the facts. In india you see women in scooty everywhere. Maximum shops run by women. In Pakistan women are only visible in big cities.
Recommend
HonorBright Jan 25, 2020 08:15am
Taking her literally would obviously obfuscate her question: the fact that there are more men on our roads than women supports her query.. we can't hide it anymore that our women are our local aliens
Recommend
Ana Jan 25, 2020 09:25am
yes annoying vlogger. but truth is when i went to aigon, Vietnam it reminded me of karachi except one difference. too many women on the street and motorbikes. it was refreshing to see that. And this Gul Jabeen lady is definitely very privileged. I live and travel across America but back home in karachi, my parents don't let me use rickshaw to go to market 15 minutes away from our house. but all the Pakistanis fawning over previous white vloggers needed to hear this. the country is not safe for women who dont have strong social class background
Recommend
S Jan 25, 2020 09:27am
She is so right, when travelers from abroad come to Pakistan, they get surprised to see streets and public places with men but women not be seen anywhere. And to be critical of her observation by these people doesn't make sense. False patriotism.
Recommend
Vikas Jan 25, 2020 10:21am
@Dang! The class of women in shopping malls is not what she was referring to. It’s when you don’t find women in busses or roads or public places or in offices. Women in shopping malls are thee win Saudi also.
Recommend
Shaz Jan 25, 2020 01:50pm
I disagree with the way you’ve expressed and singled out. I agree that law and order is changing and previous corrupted governments had such freedom to corrupt by making bribery a must in policing things and Imran Khan has been working around corruption and now the previous politicians seen to throw him since he’s promised to end this and bring the corruption to an end. When the law and order is set so many will feel free to go out like in Dubai you can travel alone at night. Imran khan is there to stop corruption and end poverty and give people their rights to live as they wish but to do it without affecting others rights. Why don’t you do a video on Modi himself who’s dividing a beautiful country.
Recommend
Sania Jan 25, 2020 02:09pm
You can close ur eyes all u want to but that won't change the reality... Women are absent from our public spaces and those who muster the courage to go out are made to feel awkward .. sad reality !!
Recommend
Anon Jan 25, 2020 05:50pm
@Parvez So what is your point ?
Recommend
Waheed Noor Jan 25, 2020 08:35pm
Why is it so difficult for us to accept the truth? Here is a little test which you can do yourself. Go to Wagah border and see how many women are in the stands on Pakistani side compared to Indian side. I rest my case.
Recommend
Zubair Jan 25, 2020 08:36pm
This is not true about Pakistan we are Muslims we do respect for women we support women but u didn't shoot for those women whom are doing business by themselves but you are outsiders you will show the negative part of Pakistan your type of people just want ratings You are not good traveler
Recommend
SachBol Jan 25, 2020 09:46pm
@Talha I think visitor was talking about Northern areas of Pakistan. This is definitely not true in big cities.
Recommend
Zatar Jan 26, 2020 07:11am
@Sourav Ghosh nopes. No one denied. We all know if it's not safe it's not time to go outside
Recommend
Sane One Jan 27, 2020 06:11am
Why is she not correct in her assumption based in her observation? Go out in Pakistan and go out in any other country you will know what she is talking about. No need to get offended. Whole of the world is not our enemy.
Recommend