Mahira Khan was recently speaking to BBC World News while promoting her film ‘Verna’, in which she plays a rape survivor.
Mahira used her interview as an opportunity to reveal some bitter truths about harassment in workplace since these topics are largely misunderstood in Pakistan.
“It doesn’t matter how I conduct myself… that does not allow anybody to harass me.” @TheMahiraKhan intelligently talks about harassment and misconduct with women whilst promoting #Verna on @BBCWorld. @OK_Pakistan @mangobaaz @dawn_images @etribune @MissMalini @pinkvilla pic.twitter.com/fQxsZHCANg
— Haroon Rashid (@iHaroonRashid) November 9, 2017
1) If a woman has avoided harassment, it’s not because she’s ‘better’ than her peers. Maybe it was just luck.
Mahira hasn’t run over any cases of badgering, sexual or something else, in her whole acting career.
While a few performers may credit this to their own ‘unobtrusive’ conduct or dressing (according to regular view of what causes harassment in Pakistan), Mahira tried to clarify that her activities have nothing to do with this.
“I have been fortunate with the people that I’ve worked with ─ and I have worked with very few people,” she said.
2) Dressing a certain way doesn’t cause harassment. Harassers cause harassment.
At the point when asked how young actresses entering the industry can remain safe, Mahira said no one is allowed to hassle somebody because of their conduct or how they dress.
“It doesn’t matter how I conduct myself or what I wear or how I speak or where I sit or what I do. That does not allow anybody to harass me,” Mahira said.
“So I am not gonna say I had a ‘good conduct’ or a ‘certain conduct’, and that’s the reason I wasn’t harassed. No, that would be the wrong answer,” she added.
3) Abusers often tend to prey on people they perceive to be less powerful.
Mahira brought up that she began acting at a generally more seasoned age than her companions, after she turned into a mother. So maybe she wasn’t as powerless as she may have been as a young person.
Predators go after girls that are much younger and more helpless, Mahira said. “They may not be in a position to speak up or speak out.There a lot of things that are a part of this and conduct is not one of them,” she further added.
Verna stars Mahira Khan as a rape survivor, while Haroon Shahid plays her husband. It is directed by Shoaib Mansoor.
The movie is set to release on November 17.
