The issue of misogyny in the workplace is a prevalent and disturbing reality in many parts of the world, including Pakistan. As a Pakistani woman who has experienced the impacts of misogyny firsthand, I feel compelled to share my story of standing up against it. …

I grew up in a small town in Pakistan, where gender roles were clearly defined. Men were the breadwinners, while women were expected to stay at home and take care of the household. I never questioned this division of labor until I left my hometown and began to see the…

I opened my eyes to the sterile, white-walled waiting room. The antiseptic smell of a hospital surrounded me. I looked over to see my father’s stern face, his brows furrowed in disappointment. My grandmother, dressed in a black chador, sat next to him, her wrinkled face contorted with grief. As…

Growing up, my house smelled of Jasmine. To this day, the air in the hallways still carries a slight hint of that fruitful, feminine scent. Amma, my mother, would pick the flowers from outside and bring them in (as if we needed another indication of the fact that only women…

“Oh, Shut up! You don’t want me to come near you. That’s why you are making these excuses about your health. Do you even know it is a sin to say no to me? I will see tonight how you dare to decline.” …

Ambulances blared their sirens outside. Inside, the wails of agony co-mingled with the sounds of new life arriving on earth. Red and green lights alternated outside the operation theater. This was the routine chaos of the emergency department in a government hospital. At 7:45 am, I began my 5-minute walk…

Karachi is the most populous city in Pakistan. It is estimated that over 20 million people call the city home. About 8 million women live in this city, and I was one of them. Being a woman in any part of the country is similar because of the misogyny that…

I picture the bustling seaport of Karachi, the city where I was raised, as a woman. The common conception is that Karachi is a masculine entity because of the businesses that are associated with it. …

“Why don’t you just agree to marry him?” asked Farah’s sister. “You would have a happy life. Trust me. You won’t be able to face the world and take care of your children alone.” “How can I marry my brother-in-law?” Farah exclaimed. “In fact, I don’t want to marry anyone…