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'I said what I said': Ushna Shah highlights one way men and women are treated differently

'I said what I said': Ushna Shah highlights one way men and women are treated differently

Men can demand something and get away with it but women are called bossy for saying the same thing, says the actor.
09 Jun, 2021

Known for her unapologetic and unfiltered opinions, actor Ushna Shah believes there are double standards in the way men and women are treated in the Pakistani entertainment industry.

She gave an interview to Something Haute in September 2020 in which she highlighted the differences in the way men and women are treated and her words are still relevant today.

Re-sharing the video, the Bashar Momin actor unapologetically captioned it "I said what I said."

"I've noticed that regardless of how a woman behaves, the connotations attached to them are always negative. So if I'm demanding or I need something, or another woman with me needs it, their name is taken negatively. We are bossy and shrill," she said.

"However, if a man's behaviour is five times worse, but he's a male actor or senior, then no, he's senior, he needs this. He's never called problematic," she added.

Shah's comment comes from a valid place of concern where women have to work twice as hard to make themselves seen or heard, while men can easily get away with demands regardless of whether they are justified or not. Women are often criticised for being "too emotional" when they say something, regardless of whether it needed to be said.

Shah's interview might be from eight months ago, but unfortunately nothing has changed. People still treat women who speak up like pariahs and consider them "bossy and shrill" if they demand something. This isn't a problem endemic to just the entertainment industry but we've recently seen an instance in which a woman baring her vulnerability was made fun of.

Women have as much right to show their emotions — either tears, anger or joy — as men do. Making fun of someone for crying on camera and calling a woman bossy for demanding professionalism are two sides of the same misogynistic coin.

Comments

Syed Jun 09, 2021 05:52pm
Who is she?
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Truth be told Jun 09, 2021 06:01pm
"Shah's interview might be from eight months ago, but unfortunately nothing has changed. " What a naive statement to make just for the sake of jotting down a comment. The author appears to be a teenager or someone in early twenties who believes change happens overnight and people before them didn't try or weren't pulling the right strings. Sometimes they believe that they were the only ones who recognized a fault with the system! Regardless if Shah is bold then it is good but if she is blunt and has an attitude problem then it is going to be a huge issue for her. Her tweets appear to make her fall in the latter group but it remains to be seen if she can maintain her composure, modesty and pride. I will only bet on pride based on what I have seen.
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well-wisher Jun 09, 2021 06:02pm
Equal rights is what must be respected without fear. THE LAW MUST PREVAIL AND ENFORCED JUSTLY. Speaking out justly must be reported and respected by all media. MORE WOMEN should be in positions of responsibility based on merit.
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