Our brothers and sisters across the border, in Pakistan, have similar expressions we are versed with back here in India. And, we might not openly admit it but our societies have way too many similarities.
Like, a set of mindsets, the way the culture is upheld and of course, usage of Haaye, haaye! Tauba, tauba! Log kya kahenge? Chhi chhi! et al, to be used in reference to women and a whole lot of things.
Today, Pakistan is pacing towards progressive mindset and Pakistani women are conquering the world. But, how progressive is the thinking at the grass root level? A Twitter user, Sidra Amin, summed up how life in Pakistan is like in a hilarious thread and it is so point. We’re hooked!
1. She nailed it with the first tweet itself.
https://twitter.com/Sidraaminq/status/945290995201183747
2. Yeh driving wala humare saath bhi hua hai bibi ji: Indian women be like!
3. You can’t do certain things at workplace that you can otherwise do easily because, “bibi jee, aisay na karen, acha nahi lagta.”
Had no place to sit at in HMC because yahan na bethen, acha nahi lagta, wahan na bethen acha nahi lagta. Bibi ji ended up standing for 6hrs.
— সিদ্রা (@sunflowermochii) December 25, 2017
3. Women playing the victim card is the most misogynistic card men across globe play.
5. It is okay to stare at you because of your gender, even if you look very normal, aren’t overdressed, and have no horns on your head.
— সিদ্রা (@sunflowermochii) December 25, 2017
4. She summed it up with how fingers point at women who dare to say it out loud and how fingers are being pointed at her, for this thread.
I got a lot of hatred for this thread from all across because "You defaming the country" or "this doesn't happen in our privileged neighborhood."
But the amount of likes, retweets, and replies from people who experienced this is a testimony that so many women suffer.
— সিদ্রা (@sunflowermochii) December 27, 2017
5. She had the apt understanding of how Pakistani society reacts and how people should not deny the bad things happening around them.
But the world doesn't become a safe place for others when you deny bad things are happening because they aren't happening around you, or because your interpretation of religion makes the bad okay. If something is making someone feel bad, the religion probably doesn't support it.
— সিদ্রা (@sunflowermochii) December 27, 2017
And, that’s how it’s done!
Soon, Sidra’s thread caught fire and was circulating on the web-lanes.
1. Tweeple lauded her for writing it all out.
I luved each n every sentence u wrote 👍 totally relatable, and we are always sidelined by LOG KYA KAHENGE
— o/ (@naamhikafi_hay) December 27, 2017
2. It was deemed relatable AF!
I've been told by some elders in my fam not to do my chores because 'larkiyan hai na!'. Aur yae road wala case, I see it everyday as I drive to college. Whether it's a 10 yrs old kid or an 70 yrs old buzurg, feels like they consider it their duty to stare at every passing woman
— Hassaan Malik 🇵🇰 (@Hassaan921) December 26, 2017
3. And, Indians agreed too.
Behen.. it's not just Pakistan but many nations where women are treated as 2nd class citizen, not necessarily through out, there are pockets with better scenarios. But if this changes a single man. It's enough..
— Kartika Sitoke (@KartikaTweets) December 27, 2017
You deserve all the applause, Sidra. Kudos and more power to you! We are right behind you!