"Transcending Stereotypes by Nariman Ansari" (by Nariman Ansari)

The BURKAH woman They belong mainly to the lower middle and lower class. Many are housewives and many work in salons, as teachers, telephone operators, etc. They don't use the burqah so much for religious reasons, but more for cultural reasons. They cover themselves as a sign of a respectable status and belonging to ‘good’ families. Women working is not applauded in these communities due to lack of education, this also gives them a way of hiding themselves as they head for work.

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:49:40 +0000

The BURKAH woman They belong mainly to the lower middle and lower class. Many are housewives and many work in salons, as teachers, telephone operators, etc. They don't use the burqah so much for religious reasons, but more for cultural reasons. They cover themselves as a sign of a respectable status and belonging to ‘good’ families. Women working is not applauded in these communities due to lack of education, this also gives them a way of hiding themselves as they head for work.
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These women are thirty-somethings and are mostly seen at poetry readings, plays, the occasional press club protest about internet censorship. Many of them are journalists, artists, and poets. They avoid dressing in embroidered clothes, sticking to either western black tops, or solid colour shirts made in 'khaddar' cloth. They want to be taken seriously and yet reflect their individuality and bohemian nature.

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:49:40 +0000

These women are thirty-somethings and are mostly seen at poetry readings, plays, the occasional press club protest about internet censorship. Many of them are journalists, artists, and poets. They avoid dressing in embroidered clothes, sticking to either western black tops, or solid colour shirts made in 'khaddar' cloth. They want to be taken seriously and yet reflect their individuality and bohemian nature.
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These women, mostly twenty and thirty somethings are educated, belong to upper middle class and upper class families. Their families are liberal, and many are western educated. They are urban, and most of them work. They are seen at every party, every fashion event, and aspire to be in the social pages.

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:49:40 +0000

These women, mostly twenty and thirty somethings are educated, belong to upper middle class and upper class families. Their families are liberal, and many are western educated. They are urban, and most of them work. They are seen at every party, every fashion event, and aspire to be in the social pages.
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Cleaning women are standard features in every Pakistani home. They belong to the lower class and live in slums or makeshift tents.. Even lower class households hire them. They are transitional characters. They arrive and clean your house, bathrooms, wash dishes, and clothes and disappear in one hour or so. Sometimes they travel in buses for hours to get to the houses or apartments they work in. They are illiterate and very poor.

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:49:40 +0000

Cleaning women are standard features in every Pakistani home. They belong to the lower class and live in slums or makeshift tents.. Even lower class households hire them. They are transitional characters. They arrive and clean your house, bathrooms, wash dishes, and clothes and disappear in one hour or so. Sometimes they travel in buses for hours to get to the houses or apartments they work in. They are illiterate and very poor.
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This woman is the ultimate fantasy of the truck driver, the rickshaw driver and the shopkeeper. Lollywood is the name the media has given to the Pakistani film industry. The Lollywood actress depicted is from Punjabi language films. These heroines are mostly large, big busted, women who are loud, vulgar and yet, innocent. Our films carry sensibilities and stories which cater to the rural and lower class. The heroines are mostly women from the red-light district which is why most urban actresses would never dream of entering the film industry.

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:49:40 +0000

This woman is the ultimate fantasy of the truck driver, the rickshaw driver and the shopkeeper. Lollywood is the name the media has given to the Pakistani film industry. The Lollywood actress depicted is from Punjabi language films. These heroines are mostly large, big busted, women who are loud, vulgar and yet, innocent. Our films carry sensibilities and stories which cater to the rural and lower class. The heroines are mostly women from the red-light district which is why most urban actresses would never dream of entering the film industry.
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These are serious, urban intellectual [or pseudo-intellectual] women. Also known as 'NGO types'. Feminists also fall into this category. They are seen protesting in the streets or on current affairs talk shows when the issues are about women's rights, or crimes against women or freedom of speech. The attire is reflecting seriousness and yet tastefulness. They are cultured, and belong to the upper middle class mostly. The sign held by the woman reads 'Bol kay Lub Aazaad hain tairay..' This is a famous line from Communist Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz which translates into: 'Speak; for your lips are free..'

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:49:40 +0000

These are serious, urban intellectual [or pseudo-intellectual] women. Also known as 'NGO types'. Feminists also fall into this category. They are seen protesting in the streets or on current affairs talk shows when the issues are about women's rights, or crimes against women or freedom of speech. The attire is reflecting seriousness and yet tastefulness. They are cultured, and belong to the upper middle class mostly. The sign held by the woman reads 'Bol kay Lub Aazaad hain tairay..' This is a famous line from Communist Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz which translates into: 'Speak; for your lips are free..'
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The college girl is the picture of innocence and virginal naivety. She belongs to the lower and middle class and studies in segregated government schools and colleges. This girl is most commonly portrayed in fairness cream commercials and aspires to be a teacher or doctor, as those are the most respectable professions for a girl.

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:46:55 +0000

The college girl is the picture of innocence and virginal naivety. She belongs to the lower and middle class and studies in segregated government schools and colleges. This girl is most commonly portrayed in fairness cream commercials and aspires to be a teacher or doctor, as those are the most respectable professions for a girl.
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These are urban middle-aged women who are from upper class families or are married into them. They hold ‘kitty’ parties [all-girl parties] and coffee parties and dress up for each other. The cheetah printed clothes, and the light streaked hair is a common feature. There is always a show of gold and diamonds to show status. Many of these women have arranged marriages and throw themselves into friends and fashion and socialising since there is money to be spent. They fly to Dubai to shop for anything and everything. Family vacations are mostly in Paris, or London.

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:49:40 +0000

These are urban middle-aged women who are from upper class families or are married into them. They hold ‘kitty’ parties [all-girl parties] and coffee parties and dress up for each other. The cheetah printed clothes, and the light streaked hair is a common feature. There is always a show of gold and diamonds to show status. Many of these women have arranged marriages and throw themselves into friends and fashion and socialising since there is money to be spent. They fly to Dubai to shop for anything and everything. Family vacations are mostly in Paris, or London.
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Popularly known as ‘Rundee’ in local slang, these women belong to the red-light areas. They are mostly from small towns or rural areas. In older times, there used to be the tradition of 'courtesan' much like the geisha. Now the prostitute has nothing to offer except sex, some dancing on Bollywood or Lollywood songs, and singing. These women aspire at their best to be Lollywood actresses. Most of them get a few hundred to a few thousand for dance performances or sex. They have no unions to fight for their rights and protection. Surprisingly, they are quite dominant in their family hierarchy as they are the main bread-earners in the family. Most of the men in these families live off their sisters, and mothers and mainly become pimps, or play music. Strangely, the style of dress they follow is very similar to the way that eunuchs style themselves.

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:49:40 +0000

Popularly known as ‘Rundee’ in local slang, these women belong to the red-light areas. They are mostly from small towns or rural areas. In older times, there used to be the tradition of 'courtesan' much like the geisha. Now the prostitute has nothing to offer except sex, some dancing on Bollywood or Lollywood songs, and singing. These women aspire at their best to be Lollywood actresses. Most of them get a few hundred to a few thousand for dance performances or sex. They have no unions to fight for their rights and protection. Surprisingly, they are quite dominant in their family hierarchy as they are the main bread-earners in the family. Most of the men in these families live off their sisters, and mothers and mainly become pimps, or play music. Strangely, the style of dress they follow is very similar to the way that eunuchs style themselves.
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The burqah is named after 'shuttlecocks' used in badminton since they are quite similar in design. These are most visible in western media as the most immediate stereotype of the Pakistani woman. These women are mostly illiterate, and live in highly male-dominated societies. These burqahs are mostly used by Pashtun women belonging to the northern areas since the men are quite obsessed with 'honour' and women are viewed as part and parcel of that. These women have seen the same attitudes in their grandmothers, and mothers, and are quite used to the idea of covering themselves. It is a cultural boundary that forces them to wear this. Even when they move to cities, they keep wearing these burqahs since they are fearful of dishonouring their families.

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:49:40 +0000

The burqah is named after 'shuttlecocks' used in badminton since they are quite similar in design. These are most visible in western media as the most immediate stereotype of the Pakistani woman. These women are mostly illiterate, and live in highly male-dominated societies. These burqahs are mostly used by Pashtun women belonging to the northern areas since the men are quite obsessed with 'honour' and women are viewed as part and parcel of that. These women have seen the same attitudes in their grandmothers, and mothers, and are quite used to the idea of covering themselves. It is a cultural boundary that forces them to wear this. Even when they move to cities, they keep wearing these burqahs since they are fearful of dishonouring their families.
view full-size image