By: Israa Aslam
I am labelled, because I am a girl
I am labelled, because I want to chase my dreams
I am labelled, because I want to live life on my own terms
I am labelled, because I am able to talk
I am labelled, because I Raise my voice against injustice
I am labelled because I give shut-up calls
I am labelled, because I am able to say ‘NO’
I am labelled, because I stepped out of the house
I am labelled, because I get education
I am labelled, because I work
I am labelled because I earn money
I am labelled, because I can travel alone
I am labelled, because I hang-out with my friends
I am labelled, because I wear make-up
I am labelled, because I dress in a certain way
I am labelled, because I Breath
We live in a society where every girl carries a certain TAG with her, whatever a Girl does it becomes a label for her, from the way she walks to the way she talks. A girl with wheat-ish complexion is labeled as KAALI, if a girl gets education and work for herself she is labelled as ‘AZAAD-khayal’ , if she travel or hang-out with her friends she is then labelled as ‘AWARA, if she wears make-up’ she is labeled ‘OOCHI’, if she talks much she is labeled ‘teekhichuri’ if a girl get divorced she is labeled ‘TALAQ-YAFTA’ and list goes on.
Our society has designated females by certain tags.Whenever we talk about females, there is a limited criteria of thought and a conservative mind-set carried through decades in this society. And the thing is so far men and women had equally contributed in actualizing this conservative mind set. Primarily all of it begins with our own homes, our own families and we all are part of it. A girl is always said to be someone’s sister, mother, daughter or wife but we need to understand above all that she is a Human-being. Our society needs to accept that girls are also human-beings. Before labeling a girl because of her tasks or whatever just give a thought that, she is a human-being’ living its life , doing work, chasing goals, making mistakes, laughing, crying, enjoying, breathing.
We should stop thinking in a separate section for females . We should stop assuming girls as defenseless creatures. Girls should be able to do everything they wanted without getting any tag or label. There are thousands of girls in our society who wanted to achieve their goals, accomplish their dreams, but they aren’t doing so due to the fear of getting labelled. On the other hand there are those girls who also belongs to this society, living here, and aimed for bring the change despite the fact that they also got the Tag but they are the fearless ones, they get labelled, but they know how to fight back to that, how to shut those ridiculous noises which comes from the society and knock them ‘stereotypes’ down.
If we observe carefully, usually the ones who pretend to be open minded and seems to be very accepting towards women empowerment are those’ with most of the trash stuck in their minds, pretending to make the change but they aren’t actually. They are the real wrecker. But the genuine agents of change can easily tell them apart.
Stop labeling girls. Accept that they are also a normal beings. Stop questioning their actions ,their lives, their bodies, their status. Break the societal chains and make a flap for change. Let them breath freely, because they are the future. Don’t let the future hold grudges in its heart. Start accepting!
The writer is Journalism student based in Kohat & can be reached at
[email protected]
