Journalist Reham Khan says it is understood that a woman in Pakistan will receive a backlash whenever she expresses herself, be it at home or workplace.
She expressed these remarks in an interview with Dissent Today, while referring to her experience of online trolling after she announced her third marriage.
Reham Khan was previously married to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan.
“People think they can interfere in your life, especially if you are a woman in the public domain, be it a journalist or politician. A woman will face criticism over anything she says or does,” she said.
“It is considered a norm to interfere in women’s lives and choices,” Reham Khan said, while urging women to resist the interference so “unjust societal norms” can be changed for the younger generations.
.@RehamKhan1 tells @DissentToday she deliberately mentioned the age gap between her and her husband while announcing her marriage in December. There was a misogynistic backlash following the announcement just because Reham’s husband is younger than her. pic.twitter.com/VjkKtPZPR3
— Dissent Today (@DissentToday) February 10, 2023
“My daughters should not face the same issues I faced,” she emphasised.
Backlash after marriage announcement
While talking about her marriage, she said she released all the facts herself to the press.
“As per Shariah, I had to declare my Nikkah,” she said.
She added that despite the criticism and trolling, the news also sparked a debate on if a woman can marry someone younger than herself, which she deemed a positive step towards changing people’s mindset.
She said criticism is part of life for every woman in Pakistan, while adding, in an apparent reference to PTI, that “there is a particular party that just throws mud at me and I am their prime target”.
“I lead my life with courage and honesty in the face of criticism,” said the journalist.
She said that women are always at fault in our society.
“I detach myself from all the toxicity and negative people. And I do not let the criticism deter me,” she concluded.
