In an interview with Madeha Naqvi, actor Mariyam Nafees dropped some truth bombs. "I don't know how this will be interpreted, but I will genuinely say that our society is very patriarchal," she said. "People do not like women who are confident."
Mariyam related her insights to her own experiences, noting that society can't stomach a woman who speaks her mind. "Even some of the people watching us right now would have a problem with us having a conversation so early in the morning. They'd want us to stay inside our kitchens and take care of our children. It's so unfortunate because people say things like, "Girls like this don't attract boys. They don't like dominant, opinionated women.'"
She observed that often women feed into the narrative. "I get to hear this so many times, that I'm too opinionated. And this is something women say to me, even the ones who live abroad and have access to education."
Unapologetic about how she carries herself, she added, "I'm entitled to my opinion. Why can I not be opinionated? People can't digest this."
The Yaqeen Ka Safar actor believes that his mindset is extended to those who work in the entertainment industry at large. She feels that people have uninformed, biased perceptions of how celebrities and media personalities act, which stem from a general sense of contempt towards showbiz professions.
"People don't like women in the industry, and we come from a variety of different backgrounds. They pour scorn on our work," she said. "What are we doing wrong? We offer prayers diligently at our sets, we have our meals together, and we make the most of the 12 hours we are required to spend with each other. No one at our sets and studios considers other people and professions to be beneath them."
Meaningful bonds
