The reaction to Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s photos and videos at her son Junaid Safdar’s ongoing wedding events is a reminder of the society’s habit of policing women’s choices.
The dress that Maryam wore at Junaid’s Mehndi event drew both appreciation and criticism from netizens. Some users stated that Maryam had stolen the bride’s ‘thunder’ by overdressing and becoming the center of attention.
The bride in this picture is actually groom's mother- maryam nawaz. What degree of narcissism this is when a 50 years old woman tries to steal the lime light from the bride?! pic.twitter.com/mvGriSfJ7N
— miss glorious mess ☕ (@starsnnebulas) December 12, 2021
Not Maryam Nawaz trying to steal the bride’s thunder. Who does that???? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/YivDqJZI7D
— . (@deej_aman_) December 12, 2021
However, many supported Maryam, saying that she had the right to choose the way she looks and dresses.
All PTI supporters have left to unite them, it seems, is their bitterness about how good Maryam Nawaz looks.
— Nida Kirmani (@NidaKirmani) December 13, 2021
So Imran Khan can be "handsome" at the age of 69, but Maryam Nawaz cannot be beautiful at the age of 48? 🤔
— Aima Khosa (@aimaMK) December 11, 2021
Ah, so today’s Pakistani political hot-take concerns how #MaryamNawaz unfairly exceeds the acceptable level of good looks allowed to a woman in politics. #Taaliyan
— Maria Amir (@Beentherella) December 13, 2021
As a woman politician, Maryam Nawaz is often criticised by her political rivals for her outfits. Over the years, Maryam has been on the receiving end of criticism over her choice of clothes, shoes and even makeup from the ruling party’s supports on social media and sometimes even ministers and members of the ruling party.
Earlier this year, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ali Amin Gandapur had said that Maryam Nawaz had spent Rs80 million on surgery and that he will unmask her real face before the public by removing it [cosmetic surgery]. “We will slap you in the face so much that your real face will be visible to everyone,” the minister had said, while addressing a rally in Kashmir.
Apart from the ongoing wedding event, every time photos from Maryam Nawaz’s political activities are released, there is often comments on her clothing, shoes, makeup, and dressing. Some PTI supporters go to extreme length to find out the price of her shoes and outfits.
On one previous occasion, she was attacked for wearing a red dress to court. She was also bashed by social media users because party member Hina Pervez Butt referred to her as a ‘style queen’ in a tweet with her photo.
Other women politicians have also been attacked over how they choose to dress, reflecting our society’s deep-rooted misogynistic thinking and the desire to police women’s choices.
In 2016, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawja Asif came under fire for using derogatory and misogynistic language against Shireen Mazari. During a session of parliament, Asif said, “Someone make this tractor trolley keep quiet”, and “Make her voice more feminine”.
Reacting to the social media discussion about how women politicians dress, journalist Benazir Shah had said, “How a woman politician dresses, what she wears and how she styles herself is often used as a weapon by men to dismiss her, to label her as frivolous and not serious. The argument that women who enjoy fashion are incapable of leading is misogynistic. Sartorial dressing sense.
How a woman politician dresses, what she wears and how she styles herself is often used as a weapon by men to dismiss her, to label her as frivolous and not serious.
The argument that women who enjoy fashion are incapable of leading is misogynistic.
— Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) October 7, 2021
Analyst Reema Omar while reacting to misogynistic comments about female politicians had written on Twitter, “Telling how our desire for “simplicity” in politicians begins and ends with policing how women look. Men can drive the most expensive cars, live in lavish homes, show off their fitness and no questions are asked. But if a woman likes dressing up, she becomes unsuited for politics. Fashion/beauty can be one part of what makes a woman politician, but we exaggerate this part and reduce her to it. Then we argue there should be more to a leader than appearance.”
Telling how our desire for “simplicity” in politicians begins and ends with policing how women look
Men can drive the most expensive cars, live in lavish homes, show off their fitness and no questions are asked. But if a woman likes dressing up, she becomes unsuited for politics
— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) October 7, 2021
