Come, let’s walk together, in my shoes, for an uncomfortable moment. The heels are high and the standards are low. Don’t worry about all those eyes on you, that just comes with the territory. Keep your eyes down, eye contact can be mistaken for interest, oh and be sure to ignore them when they whistle. Keep that chadar around you when you’re walking on the road, they think you’re an uncovered lollipop, waiting to be sullied. Ah yes, how could I forget the honks, yes indeed the men they will slow their cars and their motorcycles down to shout a leer at you, intimidate you, punish you for encroaching their space. It is their right, they have explained multiple times that because they are men and we are Muslims, they are entitled to us. Don’t worry, they have assured me many many times that Islam has given us rights and so we must not fret. If we are unsafe on the roads, or at work, or in schools, or even at home, we must remind ourselves that Islam has already given us rights therefore if we raise alarm and ask for safety we might be threatening the religion. No you mustn’t do that.
Now if you look there, on the roads, those women with placards? Yes those very harlots. You mustn’t be like them. You see they are the ones men do not like. They think that just because they are alive, we must treat them as people. Silly women, complaining about their bodies and having to heat food. No, you’re a good girl, you must take your brother’s side, you must stay pious and untouched. Your husband will appreciate it. Yes you must make sure your husband is happy, cook what he likes, keep the house clean, make sure your body is always available for him. What’s that? You aren’t in the mood? Well too bad, you married him so why are you denying him his rights? Oh he slapped you? What did you do to provoke him? Did you argue? Did you irritate him? Men are rational and women are emotional so it must have been an emotional mistake you made that made him hit you. It’s all very rational. Chalo koi nai, it was a mistake na. Bas forgive him and move on. Have a kid. Having his children will give you a higher position in his family. He will respect you more. But you must make sure you have a son. Women who give birth to girls are replaceable. Make sure he doesn’t get another wife.
Oh you went to Med school? Must have been so you could marry well. Men like doctor wives. But don’t think about working after marriage. Only harlots work after marriage. Oh you worked hard for your degree? That’s your fault. Shouldn’t have gone to Med school na, you took the spot that a deserving man could’ve taken, Dont you know, Pakistan has a doctor shortage? All these women becoming doctors only to quit medicine. This is why they should’ve kept the quota, 15% women. Haan of course girls score more than boys, what else do they have going on? The boys, they have to go out, roam the streets, harass the whores who dare to leave their houses after sundown, of course boys don’t have time to study so don’t score as well. This is the problem okay? The Med schools are 80% women but none of them will work. Women are so selfish.
You look worried? Don’t worry, I know it’s difficult being a woman in our society but the men will protect you. All you have to do is stop pretending you’re a person. Go marry who they want, love is not allowed, don’t you dare bring dishonour to the family. Go marry that nice mediocre boy, give him sons, and then watch as those sons turn around and fortify your prison.. oh I meant home. Good girls get to go to heaven and keep their husbands. Good boys get to go to heaven and keep 72 virgins. Like I said, we already have all the rights na, why step outside the house?
^i have had every one of these conversations in my short 27 years on earth. Every. Single. One. Of. Them.