Images

Ushna Shah highlights the need for strangers to respect personal space and she's not wrong

Ushna Shah highlights the need for strangers to respect personal space and she's not wrong

The actor shared an experience with an 'aunty' touching her hair that ruined her day.
07 Mar, 2022

Actor Ushna Shah recently tweeted about an experience she had at a mall where a random woman invaded her personal space, upsetting her enough to ruin her day. We've got to say, personal space is sacred — people should keep a respectable distance from you, especially if they don't know you very well. And yes, this applies to celebrities too — they are also people.

"The aunty at the mall will never know she effectively ruined my day by touching me (my hair, had she touched my face my week would have been ruined)," the actor wrote in a tweet. She then questioned whether the concept of wanting personal space from strangers is so foreign that it enters the realms of badtameezi (impoliteness).

Some netizens agreed with her, talking about the need for boundaries.

But many others strangely called it part of desi culture or a product of fame and the side effect of being a celebrity.

No matter how well known a person may be, it is still not okay to disrespect their boundaries and make them uncomfortable. Sometimes fans don't understand that celebrities are also people who need their space and privacy — they don't owe fans an explanation for wanting their personal space respected it. If fans want a picture or to talk to a celebrity, politely asking for permission is the way to go.

Blaming it on desi culture and the effects of fame just does not cut it. Touching someone without their permission is wrong. Blaming it on our 'culture' is dismissive of both the person whose space is being invaded and every person's right to bodily autonomy. Also, in case people have forgotten — there's still a global pandemic going on.

Comments

Dr. Salaria, Ahmed Part II Mar 07, 2022 04:15pm
Here we go again
Recommend
Syed Hasni Mar 07, 2022 05:37pm
Chill out Ushna ! Your ego is very fragile, whole day on a touch that too hairs, come on.
Recommend
Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Mar 07, 2022 06:11pm
She is 100 percent right.
Recommend
Ali Sabir Mar 07, 2022 08:55pm
... No big deal.
Recommend
TenJee Mar 07, 2022 11:41pm
Define personal space. When you are out in public, the definition becomes very nuanced since how we look, speak, conduct ourselves can affect people even without physical contact.
Recommend
Guest2020 Mar 08, 2022 01:41am
Whilst I agree personal space should be respected, what really gets me is Ms Shah's belief that the act of a female fan touching her gair,, ruined her day!.. Are you so stuck up that you think you're untouchable? If such an act is going to ruin your day then it can't have been going too well in the first place !!
Recommend
Rehana Bounse Mar 08, 2022 03:44am
Personal space is a foreign concept in Pakistan. I visit Pakistan almost every year & the thing which bothers me the most is lack of personal space. Also random people being inquisitive about other peoples’ affairs.
Recommend
Ibrahim S Mar 08, 2022 04:12am
If you understood the respect for personal space, it would make land of pure a better land .
Recommend
Rehana Bounse Mar 08, 2022 10:14am
@Ibrahim S definitely!
Recommend
Rehana Bounse Mar 08, 2022 10:16am
@Ali Sabir it is a very big deal
Recommend