[BBC]100 Women: The Pakistani women shamed for their lifestyle

[Divergent]

Forget settling, that is too far. And forget thinking twice, a heartbeat is more accurate.

Oh, they don't hate Western women, they are required to pretend that they do, in front of their own people. Its mostly conformance and expediency, at play. Most of the people in this thread, don't exactly believe what they have written, to be true. But, they know, that is what the public would like to hear. Playing to the gallery, simply.

The person outside whose home you can see the "No marketing agents" sign is more likely to be persuaded by one. He knows it, of course.

Forget settling, that is too far. And forget thinking twice, a heartbeat is more accurate.

Oh, they don't hate Western women, they are required to pretend that they do, in front of their own people. Its mostly conformance and expediency, at play. Most of the people in this thread, don't exactly believe what they have written, to be true. But, they know, that is what the public would like to hear. Playing to the gallery, simply.

The person outside whose home you can see the "No marketing agents" sign is more likely to be persuaded by one. He knows it, of course.

Forget settling, that is too far. And forget thinking twice, a heartbeat is more accurate.

Oh, they don't hate Western women, they are required to pretend that they do, in front of their own people. Its mostly conformance and expediency, at play. Most of the people in this thread, don't exactly believe what they have written, to be true. But, they know, that is what the public would like to hear. Playing to the gallery, simply.

The person outside whose home you can see the "No marketing agents" sign is more likely to be persuaded by one. He knows it, of course.

People can't go enforcing their cultural views on others, they also need to be aware of the fact that everyone has different cultural values depending on the Country they live in/upbringing they have. One can't expect a white girl to wear eastern attire in the West when it's NOT part of her culture nor part of those who have been raised here (not to an everyday basis anyway). Just as the West doesn't enforce its cultural values on the people of the East.

The Chinese have their culture.
The Afghans have theirs.
The West has theirs.

Who defines what is correct or not?

One should learn to coexist and girls like (Mahira) don't have to comply with native values if they're outside the Country. You may choose to dislike her choice of clothing, but it doesn't slagging someone off.

 

[313ghazi]

So a lady wearing a skirt or smoking is being a whore?

By Pakistani standards yeah. By English standards it depends on how short your skirt is and where/when you are stood around having a smoke. You've got to put it all in context.

Men have always tried to define what women should and shouldn't do, how they should and shouldn't dress to adjust to social norms, norms often defined by men. I don't know the fascination with control. Some men have forced women to dress more conservatively, other men have forced women to dress less conservatively, but it's always men telling women what to wear.

The "liberals" are no different. They just want women to wear what they consider acceptable for women to wear. I think we should all focus on what we are wearing.

 

[Flynn Swagmire]

She wasn't in one, actually. I don't know how it even became the topic of discussion, because it was a random picture, from her time in the United States. Hence, free to do, as she pleased, in the land of free. Because, she wasn't being culturally insensitive and rude, by doing it in one of our countries. Her personal life should be her own business. Why exactly do we need to comment on that? In what ways, does it concern us, in the first place?

Bro, you took my reply out of context...

 

[HAIDER]

Pakistan is a country of stark contrasts, and when it comes to the treatment of women, they are even clearer, writes the BBC's Shumaila Jaffery.

When I was in secondary school in 1988, Benazir Bhutto's first election was fascinating for me – to the extent that I now feel her presence in those elections prompted my interest in current affairs and landed me in the journalism profession.

But I also remember fierce discussions with one of my classmates. She was the daughter of a prominent politician on the other side.

Rather than give political reasons, my classmate used to refer to Ms Bhutto's liberal lifestyle in London - and as a student in Oxford - to demean her.

It always left me angry.

I felt the same anger recently when famous Pakistani actress Mahira Khan was abused after some pictures went viral on social media.

She was "caught" spending time with Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor, smoking a cigarette on the streets of New York City. She was wearing a short backless dress inspired by Marilyn Monroe.

The pictures caused a social media storm in Pakistan. She was "slut shamed", shunned, and blamed for bringing Pakistan and Islam into disrepute.

And it's not the first time a Pakistani woman has been shamed for her choice of lifestyle.

• The smoking actress and a 'sexist double standard'

In 2007, Zill-e-Huma, a provincial minister, was killed by an extremist. Her killer later confessed that he assassinated her for not dressing "appropriately" and for "indulging" in politics.

The same year, another female minister, Nilofar Bakhtiar, was humiliated, threatened, and ditched by her own party - because she hugged her parachute instructor after completing a jump in France.

A cleric issued a religious decree against her. She was forced to resign. Her political career was finished for good.

These were prominent women: high achievers who were celebrated for their contributions, who made their own choices and lived on their own terms.

They brushed the edges of the box created by society for "good women" - and the moment society felt they stepped outside its bounds, they fell from grace.

What is 100 Women?
BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. In 2017, we're challenging them to tackle four of the biggest problems facing women today - the glass ceiling, female illiteracy, harassment in public spaces and sexism in sport.

With your help, they'll be coming up with real-life solutions and we want you to get involved with your ideas. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and use #100Women

But misogyny is not limited to prominent women. It is deeply entrenched in the social mindset, and hardly any women escape - though there are exceptions.

Pakistan is a country of stark contrasts, and when it comes to the treatment of women, they are even clearer.

Shortly after Zill-e-Huma and Nilfoar suffered for their actions, a large number of Pakistanis were supporting another woman - Aafia Siddiqui.

She was arrested by US troops in the Ghazni province of Afghanistan in 2008. Pakistanis took to the streets to condemn her detention, and demanded her release. But in 2010, Siddiqui was convicted of seven counts of attempted murder and assault.

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionProtesters rallied to campaign for the release of a woman convicted of attempted murder
Pakistanis were infuriated, and the verdict became the rallying point for the anti-American sentiment in the country. The reaction was so strong that the government had to express its dismay over the decision, and vowed to bring her back. Siddiqui was called the "daughter of the nation".

• Thousands rally in Karachi for Afia Siddiqi

When news about San Bernardino shooter Tashfeen Malik appeared in the press in 2015, she was not abused or smeared. A few people spoke about it on social media, but the reaction was muted.

The same pattern was followed when Noreen Laghari, the female militant, was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore earlier this year. She was about to blow up a church, before security agencies caught her during a raid.

Mahira came into the limelight through a famous soap opera called Humsafar, in which she played the role of Khird, a submissive woman. She rose to stardom within months.

But recent events show that it is not Mahira that people fell in love with. It was Khird, the weak and oppressed woman, who won the hearts of Pakistanis.

Khird is well within the box a misogynous society has created.

But Mahira - seen smoking and "hanging out" - is too much to handle for a nation that is still not comfortable with independent and empowered women.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-41582898

what you talking about .. she is the most influential lady in Pakistan..

 

[Spring Onion]

@Śakra @Spring Onion @Farah Sohail @Well.wisher @Divergent @Moonlight

Honesty speaking I find the UPPER part of the article with linked with LOWER part of the article somewhat misplaced. lolzz or may be am missing something here? over reading? overlooking?

what you talking about .. she is the most influential lady in Pakistan..

who is she?

 

[El Sidd]

Honesty speaking I find the UPPER part of the article with linked with LOWER part of the article somewhat misplaced. lolzz or may be am missing something here? over reading? overlooking?


who is she?

Bus jo jaldi se hua daal dia.

Pakistan Human rights council me gaya to bus awareness campaign chal rahi hai ye samjhen.

Bharati khuwahishaat nannhi munni

 

[Secur]

Bro, you took my reply out of context...

I apologize, please explain.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

Simple.

 

[Jackdaws]

From the #metoo movement, isn't it obvious that women are harassed all over the world? Just let each woman decide her boundaries for herself, just like you would allow a man to. This is not a Pakistani thing or an Indian thing - this is a global thing.

 

[AUz]

So a lady wearing a skirt or smoking is being a whore?

Lol no. That’s totally normal behavior for many very fine western girls.



In Pakistan, this behavior will be seen as utterly unacceptable of any decent girl and as “whorish” by many. These actresses like Mahira Khan are famous and loved in Pakistan because of their on screen image. Mahira Khan got famous all over Pakistan due to her character ‘Khirad’ who was a decent, upright Pakistani girl that held onto her values and faced injustices but eventually stood victorious.

So she became super famous for that role and afterwards she crafted a public image of a decent, strong Pakistani woman in media with values that appeal to the modest middle class masses.

After all of that, when her pictures of being in a skirt and publically smoking in NY came to light—it’s obvious that her fanbase backhome was enraged. I know it’s stupid but masses make a certain image of these celebrities in their mind and when they fall short—they have to face the backlash. It’s same everywhere I guess. Public life has its own perils

Hope that makes a little sense now.

In Pakistan, if your a Muslim girl wearing shorts and smoking in public—that behavior will be seen as whorish and utterly unacceptable. Makes sense?

 

[lastofthepatriots]

Lol no. That’s totally normal behavior for many very fine western girls.



In Pakistan, this behavior will be seen as utterly unacceptable of any decent girl and as “whorish” by many. These actresses like Mahira Khan are famous and loved in Pakistan because of their on screen image. Mahira Khan got famous all over Pakistan due to her character ‘Khirad’ who was a decent, upright Pakistani girl that held onto her values and faced injustices but eventually stood victorious.

So she became super famous for that role and afterwards she crafted a public image of a decent, strong Pakistani woman in media with values that appeal to the modest middle class masses.

After all of that, when her pictures of being in a skirt and publically smoking in NY came to light—it’s obvious that her fanbase backhome was enraged. I know it’s stupid but masses make a certain image of these celebrities in their mind and when they fall short—they have to face the backlash. It’s same everywhere I guess. Public life has its own perils

Hope that makes a little sense now.

In Pakistan, if your a Muslim girl wearing shorts and smoking in public—that behavior will be seen as whorish and utterly unacceptable. Makes sense?

People should refer to post #39.

 

[Flynn Swagmire]

I apologize, please explain.

Well, mike asked:
So a lady wearing a skirt or smoking is being a whore?

I just answered, in conservative society, Yes! Thats it...

 

[Cookie Monster]

Well, it depends, as always. In the urban areas, its more than satisfactory. In rural areas, the situation can improve a lot. If it is someone's personal choice, it doesn't matter. But coercion comes in many forms, always remember that.

That's true coercion comes in many forms and our society indeed puts some unfair pressure on women. These societal pressures on women include hijab/burqa, not being able to attend college and many other such things. These things can only be rectified over time by working through them.

I was merely referring to the laws of Pakistan. A lot of western ppl have this notion that in Pakistan(and other Muslim countries) Hijab/Burqa is enforced on women by the state...that's what I was trying to clarify to the international members here. At least in terms of the law in Pakistan...it's supposed to be the same for men and women when it comes to dressing.

 

[Well.wisher]

Lol no. That’s totally normal behavior for many very fine western girls.



In Pakistan, this behavior will be seen as utterly unacceptable of any decent girl and as “whorish” by many. These actresses like Mahira Khan are famous and loved in Pakistan because of their on screen image. Mahira Khan got famous all over Pakistan due to her character ‘Khirad’ who was a decent, upright Pakistani girl that held onto her values and faced injustices but eventually stood victorious.

So she became super famous for that role and afterwards she crafted a public image of a decent, strong Pakistani woman in media with values that appeal to the modest middle class masses.

After all of that, when her pictures of being in a skirt and publically smoking in NY came to light—it’s obvious that her fanbase backhome was enraged. I know it’s stupid but masses make a certain image of these celebrities in their mind and when they fall short—they have to face the backlash. It’s same everywhere I guess. Public life has its own perils

Hope that makes a little sense now.

In Pakistan, if your a Muslim girl wearing shorts and smoking in public—that behavior will be seen as whorish and utterly unacceptable. Makes sense?

Yeah yeah that behaviour will be whorish in pakistan..
But ironicly , pakistani men searching for all animal p*** and getting the top position in the world for being the top most customer of p*** isnt considered whorish .. f*** your double standards..
Go to hell .., you nd your soceity r annoying .. .

 

[Secur]

People can't go enforcing their cultural views on others, they also need to be aware of the fact that everyone has different cultural values depending on the Country they live in/upbringing they have. One can't expect a white girl to wear eastern attire in the West when it's NOT part of her culture nor part of those who have been raised here (not to an everyday basis anyway). Just as the West doesn't enforce its cultural values on the people of the East.

The Chinese have their culture.
The Afghans have theirs.
The West has theirs.

Who defines what is correct or not?

One should learn to coexist and girls like (Mahira) don't have to comply with native values if they're outside the Country. You may choose to dislike her choice of clothing, but it doesn't slagging someone off.

Indeed, to you is your way and to me is mine.

There can be no specific way for living life, defined by anyone, for the sole reason that the world is an infinitely diverse place with countless variables. You have to see it to appreciate it. Only guidelines can be provided. But that is all. One can follow the path of moderation and hope for the best. How can you define a specific dress, when the temperatures on planet Earth can range from fifty degrees celsius positive to fifty degrees celsius negative? Imagine someone wearing a bikini in Norway and a Burqa in Libya.

People must realize that there is no way to know what is in anyone's heart, the circumstances of life differ from person to person, societal conditions vary, perspectives on life are distinct, the nature of people is dissimilar, the genetic traits are highly un-alike, mindset or way of thinking are highly non identical, that fate has never served everyone equally and thus making a definite judgment on people's personal life, so long as it doesn't affect anyone else, is inaccurate and unnecessary.

Senor Gandalf says something very relevant to what we are discussing here, in the fictional Lord of the Rings. He says "Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." And that's Gandalf, compared to him, we are highly sinful and ignorant.