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Pakistan Women’s Day: It’s about time we start respecting Shireen Mazari and...
February 12, 2015, commemorates National Women’s Day in Pakistan, for our mothers, doctors, engineers, leaders, homemakers and women belonging to every strata, class and religion in society. But while...
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Are women responsible for rape?
“You know I’d never wear something like that. It’s so… so inviting.” This was said with an air of such self-righteousness that I wanted to get up and say a prayer for this woman who thought she’s the...
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My experience as a blogger for The Express Tribune’s blogs page
Today is The Express Tribune’s five year anniversary and while it is a jubilant moment for the whole publication, it is one that is also tinged with reflection. The publication started as the first...
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Dear Son, I will not put you on a high pedestal just because you are a boy
Dear Son, You are at a very tender age where everything seems new and exciting, but you will grow up in a very confusing and chaotic world. This letter aims to steer you through the tough times which...
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Understanding rape through the Game of Thrones
Warning: For those of you, who have yet to watch the new season of Game of Thrones, be prepared for spoilers. Or stop reading....
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Fundamentalism: When a woman has to prove her ‘purity’ by balancing a rock on...
August 2015 fell on South Asia’s shoulders as an overbearing weight and a massive shock – as preparations for Independence Day on both sides of the Pakistan-India border were underway. Pakistan’s...
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Are we purposely ignoring child sexual abuse in Pakistan (and our homes)?
The Pakistani media’s convincing rhetoric regarding the term sexual abuse and heart wrenching words such as ‘rape’ and ‘molestation’ have rightly highlighted the unjust practices that continue to...
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Women, power, privilege and Black Friday videos in Pakistan
Every year during the US post-Thanksgiving Day Black Friday sales, videos of brawls in the midst of the shopping madness at “big box” stores like Walmart and Target go viral. This year in Pakistan, on...
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Sanitary napkins are not luxury items… period
Is everyone ready? Okay… all together now… let’s say the following words: Period… Menstruation... Tampons… Sanitary napkins… Sanitary towels… Menstrual pad… Maxi pad… Whew. That wasn’t so hard, was it?...
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Medicating women’s feelings
Women are moody. By evolutionary design, we are hard-wired to be sensitive to our environments, empathic to our children’s needs and intuitive of our partners’ intentions. This is basic to our survival...
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Our national dress is the shalwar kameez, not the niqab
Through fear of the sword or through promise of eternal torment they spread their regressive ways. Over time we found another reason to abhor each other, to feel divided, to openly judge our own. The...
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Is the Nazi scare tactic being used against refugees in Europe?
Warning: The images in the post may not be suitable for audiences under the age of 18 years. Billing itself as a ‘brave young Polish weekly’, W Sieci wasn’t particularly brave in their choice of...
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Dear Pakistani mom, why must I fear not getting a proposal?
Dear Pakistani mom, I am your beloved daughter, slightly spoiled but mostly a responsible, caring individual who would go to great lengths just to see a smile on your face. One who would run to the...
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Religion and feminism: Why women in India are fighting for a place in temples
It’s time we remove the decadent practices that discriminate against people belonging to marginalised sections of society, especially women, from entering religious places of worship. On January 26,...
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Isn’t it about time the Pakistani government considered giving qualified...
I had taken a hiatus from work due to my household responsibilities, but now that my children had started school and all else was well, I decided that it was the perfect time to start working again. I...
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Is there hidden misogyny behind our criticism towards Ghostbusters(2016)?
Since the project of a Ghostbusters reboot with an all-female cast was announced in 2015, fans were highly critical and vocal about it. In March 2016, the first trailer was released and it quickly...
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There is no place in Pakistan for men who do not consider women their equals
The acrimonious display of chauvinism by Hafiz Hamdullah in a talk show is rightfully being condemned in all quarters of the media. However, we need to go a little further in examining this overt...
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A special place in hell is not enough for women like these
Two or three days ago, a young woman was accosted by an older woman for ‘not wearing appropriate attire’. You can see what the poor young woman was wearing here. Not that that’s important. But, anyway....
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“Her wedding ring is way too big; it’s probably fake” – Women, their own...
“OMG she’s so fat” “She works full-time, I’m sure she has no time for her kids” “Did you know she has a boyfriend? She’s so characterless” I am sure that like me, everyone has heard or even made such...
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Finally, an ad that does not care about what a man-child might think about...
Menstruation? I know what most of you are going to say: “Oh no! Run to the door! Run to the hills!” In this ‘beautiful’ society of ours, menstruation is synonymous with shame. Women and men, alike,...
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