Pakistan radio host sets out to fight harassment
Woman broadcaster breaks longstanding taboo and addresses misogyny and the objectification of women in the country
ISLAMABAD // For many women in Pakistan, leaving the house can be uncomfortable, even intimidating, because the gaze of men is never far away. Broadcaster Anila Ansari decided to bring the touchy subjects of harassment to the airwaves by launching an anti-ogling campaign on her national radio show.
The idea – unprecedented in this conservative Muslim country – came to her at the start of the year when she returned to her country after living for two decades in Great Britain.
Everywhere she went in public spaces, she felt endlessly intimidated and found she was far from alone.
“I went to different offices, restaurants: everywhere I went, I could see these eyes following me,” she said. “Every woman I spoke with said it’s endemic.” When it came to the men, many did not even realise there was a problem.
“They either laugh it off or they get really upset or even annoyed,” she said. Some blamed women for encouraging such attention by their choice of outfit or make-up. Her radio station, which claims it has 25 million listeners across the country, supported the project.
As part of the campaign, she hosts regular debates on the subject encouraging listeners to call in.
She also makes proclamations to underline her point such as: “You wouldn’t like it if someone was staring at your sister.”
Najib Ahmed, the radio’s director, said the project had his full support from the outset.
“In our country, we put these kind of issues under the carpet,” he said.
One afternoon in September, Anila and her colleagues gathered on the pavement outside Radio99’ s headquarters to spread their message on the streets.
Journalists handed out leaflets and made speeches.
“Say no to staring. It’s unethical,” shouted one of the DJs. Sana Jaffry, a young woman wearing a pink hijab and sunglasses, said she supported the project.
She, too, suffers from daily ogling by men on her way to work.
“These men who keep their sisters locked up at home, why do they stare at others?” she said.
To truly change things, “the matter will have to be taken up by the government”.
Nearby, Ayyan Ali, a young man dressed in traditional garb, is far from convinced.
“Girls are the honour of their parents,” he said.
“If they go out in the street in inappropriate clothes, we can’t help ourselves,” he said.
According to Mr Ali, most men share his views. “Everyone is watching the journalists from head to toe. Nobody is looking at them with good intentions because they are not covered properly.”
Women in Pakistan face huge discrimination in all aspects of their lives, with the country ranking 144 out of 145 on the World Economic Forum’s gender gap report last year. Ansari hopes her show can open the door for discussions on other issues facing women and girls, such as honour killing, forced marriages, and child brides.