The reaction to the photos and videos of Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz at her son Junaid Safdar’s ongoing wedding events is a reminder of society’s habit of overseeing women’s decisions.
The dress Maryam wore at Junaid’s mehndi event received both recognition and criticism from internet users. Some users said Maryam stole the bride’s “thunder” by over-dressing and getting the center of attention.
The bride in this picture is actually the groom’s mother – Maryam Nawaz. What kind of narcissism is it when a 50 year old woman tries to steal the limelight 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
– K. (@SayNoMoreSon_) December 12, 2021
However, many supported Maryam, saying that she had the right to determine her appearance and clothes.
All of the PTI followers who left her to reunite her seems to be her bitterness over how good-looking Maryam Nawaz looks.
– Nida Kirmani (@NidaKirmani) December 13, 2021
So Imran Khan can be “beautiful” at 69, but Maryam Nawaz can’t be beautiful at 48? 🤔
– Aima Khosa (@aimaMK) December 11, 2021
Ah, so today’s Pakistani political hot-takes are causing #MaryamNawaz to unjustly exceed the acceptable level of good looks a woman is allowed in politics. #Taaliyan
– Maria Amir (@Beentherella) December 13, 2021
As a politician, Maryam Nawaz is often criticized for her outfits by her political rivals. Over the years, Maryam has been criticized by the ruling party’s support on social media and sometimes even by ministers and members of the ruling party for her choice of clothes, shoes, and even makeup.
Earlier this year, the Federal Minister for Kashmiri Affairs Ali Amin Gandapur said that Maryam Nawaz had spent 80 million rupees on operations and that he would expose her real face to the public by removing it [cosmetic surgery]. “We will hit you in the face so much that your real face is visible to everyone,” the minister said before a rally in Kashmir.
Aside from the ongoing wedding event, every time photos are posted of Maryam Nawaz’s political activities, there are often comments on her clothes, shoes, makeup, and attire. Some PTI followers go extremely far to find out the price of their shoes and outfits.
She was attacked on a previous occasion for wearing a red dress in court. She was also beaten up by social media users because party member Hina Pervez Butt tweeted her as the “queen of style” with her photo.
Other women politicians have also been attacked for their clothing choices, reflecting the deeply ingrained misogyny of our society and a desire to control women’s choices.
In 2016, Khawja Asif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), came under fire for using derogatory and misogynistic language towards Shireen Mazari. During a parliamentary session, Asif said: “Somebody is making this tractor wagon quieter” and “Make her voice more feminine”.
In response to the discussion on social media about how women politicians dress, journalist Benazir Shah had said: “How a politician dresses, what she wears and how she styles herself is often used by men as a weapon to defend her to dismiss them in order to label them as frivolous and not serious. The argument that women who enjoy fashion are unable to lead is misogynistic. Sartorial clothing sense.
How a politician dresses, what she wears and how she styles herself is often used by men as a weapon to dismiss them, to describe them as frivolous and not serious.
The argument that women who enjoy fashion are unable to lead is misogynistic.
– Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) October 7, 2021
In response to misogynistic comments about women politicians, analyst Reema Omar wrote on Twitter: “Tell how our desire for“ simplicity ”in politicians begins and ends with monitoring the looks of women. Men can drive the most expensive cars, live in luxurious houses, show their fitness and no questions will be asked. But if a woman likes to dress up, she becomes unsuitable for politics. Fashion / beauty can be part of who a politician is, but we exaggerate that part and reduce it to that. Then we argue that a leader should be more than looks. “
Tell how our desire for “simplicity” in politicians begins and ends with the police monitoring what women look like
Men can drive the most expensive cars, live in luxurious houses, show their fitness and no questions will be asked. But if a woman likes to dress up, she is unsuitable for politics
– Reema Omer (@reema_omer) October 7, 2021
