May 14Member-onlyThe Secret to Relationship LongevityHow many times have we heard phrases like, “Oh, you’ve changed on me” or “You’re not the person I met”? Well, the truth of the matter is, it’s completely normal and reasonable for people to change. The hope is that people will grow into better versions of themselves. …Relationships3 min readRelationships3 min read
May 13Member-onlyConsider Your Values When Choosing Your PeopleThis may be controversial because we often hear that good friendships can withstand political differences and ideological divergence. However, people want to be around those they can trust. Part of trusting someone is knowing where they stand on important issues and understanding those stances. If two people have significantly different…Relationships3 min readRelationships3 min read
May 12Member-onlyHow Codependency Destroys RelationshipsOne of the key signs of a codependent person is that their behavior is largely organized around another person. A codependent person is not at the center of their world. Another person is. When you bring unaddressed codependency into your relationship, be it a friendship or a romantic connection, you…Love3 min readLove3 min read
May 12Member-onlyStreet Harassment and the Failure of PolitenessDuring my upbringing, my sensibilities were doused with the importance of politeness. This partly helped me. Learning manners and being taught to think of others, to put myself in others’ shoes, kept me from becoming an inconsiderate jerk. But lessons in female politeness were a tremendous setback. The problem was that the pressure to exhibit extreme politeness cost me…Feminism2 min readFeminism2 min read
May 10Member-onlyThe Dangers of an Asymmetrical RelationshipThe start of a relationship is a telling predictor of how the rest of the relationship will go. A lot of behavior patterns tend to get cemented early on. If you allow a person to get more out of you than you get out of them, this will likely continue…Relationships3 min readRelationships3 min read
Apr 13Member-onlyWomen Know More Than Makeup BrandsI nervously sat across from the interviewer, trying to maintain a professional demeanor. I had prepared for this moment for weeks, perfecting my resume and rehearsing my answers to common interview questions. …Feminism2 min readFeminism2 min read
Published inAn Amygdala·Apr 12Member-onlyThe Aurat March Ignites Pakistani WomenMillions of Pakistani women fear losing their rights and means of subsistence due to a gender-based violence crisis. Pakistan places 167th out of 170 nations in the Women, Peace, and Security Index for the health and well-being of women. …Women3 min readWomen3 min read
Apr 12Member-onlyShe Started a Feminist UprisingA story caught my eye one day while scrolling through my social media feed. It was about a young girl who stood up against sexism in Pakistan. It was a powerful and inspiring tale that I had to share with my followers. I quickly typed out a caption for the…Feminism2 min readFeminism2 min read
Apr 9Member-onlyHe Tried to Blackmail Me Into Marrying HimWhen I first faced the discriminatory behaviors of others, I was 19 years old. Innocent and shy, I did not know the world’s harsh realities. My family, especially my father, was very protective of me. My brothers, however, were not. …Storytelling3 min readStorytelling3 min read
Apr 8Member-onlySilent No More: My Story of Speaking Out Against SexismI grew up in Pakistan, in a conservative society where discussions of sexism and misogyny were often restricted. Because these topics were seldom discussed openly, most people decided to turn a blind eye to mistreatment they witnessed. As a result of little to no conversation about discrimination against women, I…Feminism3 min readFeminism3 min read