In Pakistan, following stereotypes is a well-known form of expression. People with no ideas or an approach to life, where they think out of the box, hardly exist. For decades, certain stereotypes have been going around in the country and have prevailed in the form of a popular public opinion.
According to the people of the country, these are the most common Pakistani stereotype that may or may not need to be broken.
Source: parhlo.com
1. The stereotype about rape victims staying quiet because if they speak, they’ll be harming their own image
That rape victims should remain quiet after the tragedy b/c Izzat ka sawal haai!!#PakistaniStereoTypes
— Kanza (@kanzakhtar) December 10, 2016
2. The stereotype that science is a better field than arts – we have stopped paying respect to knowledge
Science parhne walay Arts parhne walon se behtar hotay hain.#PakistaniStereoTypes
— purple. (@nhlpbj) December 10, 2016
3. The stereotype where boys get to do whatever they want and when girls do it, it’s considered wrong. #Hypocrisy
He is a boy, he can date anyone he wants.
She is a girl, she cant date because she is a girl#PakistaniStereoTypes— Arisha. (@Areeeshhh) December 10, 2016
4. Syeds will only marry in Syeds – this way, the Syed name will go on through Syedi…
https://twitter.com/iSunaiina/status/807590461888086017
5. If a guy does it, it’s okay. When a girl does it, she has false morals and no respect for herself
If a woman is posting her photos on social media and talking to boys,
She has a loose character!#PakistaniStereoTypes— ? (@Javyriah) December 10, 2016
6. The stereotype where NAB says ‘Say no to corruption’ but you don’t because you’re fat…
belly swells due to random disease, haram khata hy harami #PakistaniStereoTypes
— Nojokefound_ (@k3wlbwoyy) December 10, 2016
7. A stereotype backing this stereotype is: “Girls should get married at a young age!”
https://twitter.com/ShafaqAwan36/status/807642451540373504
8. The stereotype where a ‘white’ bahu who can cook and is a doctor, driver, plumber, guard, cricketer, and a transformer is necessary, na!
#PakistaniStereoTypes aunties demand be like: gori bahu ho or Dr b ho or 20 saal ki ho for their chand sa beta ?
— Zoey☃♚ (@43shinebright) December 10, 2016
9. When girls write compliments for guys they are being nice, but when a guy does it, ewwww yeh toh maila hai?
If a boy comments *Nice pic* on a girls display then he is called maila. #Pakistanistereotypes
— Shahrukh Butt (@ishahrukhb) December 10, 2016
10. Last name Usman aur Siddiqui, yeh toh pakka Sunni hi hosakta hai!
last name is ali or abbas? shia hu kya? #PakistaniStereoTypes
— Nojokefound_ (@k3wlbwoyy) December 10, 2016
These are the stereotypes that have been around for decades or may have emerged after the advent of Social Media in Pakistan. Either way, it is about time that these hysterical stereotypes are broken and we see ourselves knit in the 21st century, which calls for equality, justice, respect and most importantly, an end to discrimination of any sort. More power to the people already breaking these stereotypes.
