In Pakistan, misogyny isn’t always loud or obvious. It often hides behind the masks of tradition, authority, or “protection.” At home, in workplaces, and even in casual gatherings, women face a kind of sexism rooted not in ignorance but in male entitlement and unchecked ego. It shows up in decisions made without women’s input, in opinions dismissed, and in autonomy undermined, all justified in the name of concern, culture, or seniority. What’s most troubling is how normalised this behaviour has become, accepted as a “way of life” instead of being recognised as systemic oppression. The reality we must confront is how male arrogance disguised as leadership or duty fuels everyday misogyny in Pakistan, and why this dynamic continues to silence, sideline, and suffocate women.
Conversations like this unsettle many because they challenge egos built on the belief that being a man automatically means superiority. But it must be said: too many “alpha males” need a reality check. The phrase “boys will be boys” isn’t harmless. It’s society’s favourite excuse for justifying unacceptable male behaviour. “He didn’t mean it, he’s just a boy” might sound trivial, but it teaches boys that accountability isn’t expected of them and teaches girls that tolerance is. Until we stop normalising such phrases, we’ll continue raising men who believe their gender grants them immunity.
From childhood, boys are conditioned to believe rules don’t fully apply to them. Parents proudly let underage sons drive, framing it as confidence, while calling chores “girls’ work.” Teasing and bullying girls is often excused as a sign of toughness. If a teenage boy yells at his sister or damages her belongings, it’s brushed aside with the claim that “that’s just how boys are.” Poor academic performance is similarly excused, with sports or physicality used as a shield. These small indulgences teach boys that they’re not answerable for their actions, a dangerous lesson that follows them into adulthood.
What’s more alarming is the persistent belief that boys are inherently superior simply because of their gender. This is not just a mindset anymore — it has become tradition. But the real enablers are not boys themselves; it’s parents and the wider society that reward male dominance and dismiss accountability. In doing so, they perpetuate a cycle of entitlement and inequality. Women, meanwhile, are often blamed for the crimes committed against them. If harassed, assaulted, or raped, society quickly accuses them of breaking two so-called commandments: dressing “inappropriately” and leaving home without a male guardian. Victims are shamed, while perpetrators are protected, excused as rare “bad apples” among otherwise superior men.
Misogyny is not culture. Male entitlement is not manhood. Silence is not peace
In this patriarchal set-up, women must work harder than men to be taken seriously. Domestic labour, though exhausting and constant, is rarely recognised as “real” work. Household chores and child-rearing are treated as women’s natural duty, while men, even fathers, conveniently distance themselves from these responsibilities, branding them incompatible with masculinity. Women are too often valued only for domestic service or sexual companionship. When family matters go wrong, blame almost always falls on the woman, especially the mother. This imbalance reveals the systemic disregard for women’s contributions and the crushing weight of expectations placed solely on them.
One of the clearest examples of internalised patriarchy lies within family structures. Elder brothers often carry an inflated sense of authority, even when the age difference is negligible. They assume dominance over sisters, demanding unquestioned respect. When paired with an authoritarian father figure, this dynamic forces women into silence, not because they are weak, but because they must preserve their dignity and peace. Younger brothers, too, often mimic this entitlement, dismissing women’s opinions despite having less experience or knowledge. They interrupt, mock, or talk over their sisters, convinced of their superiority. This unchecked male ego festers in homes like an infection poisoning respect and silencing women.
Real change demands that we abandon politeness in the face of misogyny. Misogyny is not culture. Male entitlement is not manhood. Silence is not peace. Sexist behaviour must be challenged wherever it appears around dinner tables, in classrooms, in WhatsApp groups, or in boardrooms. We need parents who raise sons with empathy, not ego. We need families that stop glorifying dominance as a male virtue. And we need men, truly principled men, who are brave enough to confront and correct other men.
This is not merely a “women’s issue.” It is a national crisis, a corrosive social disease eroding our collective humanity. The longer we hide it under the banner of tradition and false pride, the greater the cost: lost talent, broken trust, and diminished dignity. Women will no longer stay silent. They will not shrink themselves so men can feel larger. And they must not be asked to. The time for indulgence is over. The excuses must end. Boys must be taught accountability. Men must embody it. And women must be afforded the respect and voice they deserve.
Pakistan must outgrow its patriarchal delusions and confront reality with the urgency it demands.