Member-only story
They Said I Was a Bad Influence
Pakistani Women’s Voices Project
Growing up in Pakistan, I had always been aware of the stark differences between how boys and girls were treated. From an early age, I noticed that boys were given more freedom and opportunities to pursue their dreams, while girls were expected to stay at home, get married and take care of the family. It wasn’t fair, but it was just the way things were.
As a young girl, I was determined to change this. I wanted to do something meaningful with my life, but I knew that my options were limited by my gender. My parents encouraged me to focus on my studies, so I worked hard to excel in school. Despite my best efforts, however, I encountered numerous obstacles along the way.
One of the most significant challenges I faced was the lack of access to education. While I was fortunate enough to attend school, many girls in my community were not so lucky. They were expected to stay at home and help with household chores, or they were married off at a young age. I knew that education was key to breaking this cycle of inequality and I was determined to do something about it.
With the support of my parents, I began volunteering with local organizations that worked to improve access to education for girls in Pakistan. I worked with girls who had dropped out of school by…
