The women who recently have come out in public, to talk about harassment after Meesha Shafi opened up about it are all in support of the campaign MeToo! All these actress and models after being vocal about there horrible experiences are being bashed and shamed for this. Why?! Because a vast majority of people believe that in the showbiz industry women must be used to of getting “touched”. Why such stereotype?!
In the list of women who have told people about there experiences, Ayesha Omar is the recent one who told that she too was sexually harassed in the industry. She said that the collective reaction of people to an individual opening up is very disturbing.
She said:
“If a person has collected the strength to speak up about an injustice or something that has been bothering her or has been in her heart for a while, the way we, as a nation react, the way we slander, negate and we are so in utter denial of it is disturbing,”
She said that she would stand with anyone who has the strength of talking about sexual harassment
Ayesha said:
“Being a woman, especially in Pakistan, It takes a lot to speak about it. I know many women and individuals who have been through the same things. I, myself, have been a victim of serious harassment in the industry over the years,”
Ayesha said that she lacks the kind of strength that requires talking about the sexual harassment.
“I hope, someday I have the strength and I am brave enough to talk about it but when people like Meesha or others who have the courage to speak up against harassment are accused of trying to pull publicity stunts. The initial reactions to Meesha’s statement were that she was doing it for money or publicity but what publicly is she to gain out of accusing somebody of harassing her,”
She said that we need more people like Meesha Shafi who would come with the courage to talk about the bad experience that brings them down in any manner. Ayesha said that all publicity is good publicity and Meesha is only gaining bad publicity out of this.
“All she is getting is vulgar comments, angry comments, and accusations. I know she is a strong, bold and outspoken woman and she will not stand any injustice…she will speak up about it. It has taken Meesha so long to speak about something that has been happening since years and she didn’t have the strength to talk about it, so think about all those women who go through sexual harassment on a daily basis and they don’t have the strength and courage to talk about it publicly or in their families.”
When Ayesha was asked about Ali Zafar’s reaction about the allegations put on him. Ayesha said that anyone would deny if there were put in such a situation. And that Ali has all the right to deny if there is no proof it happening.
“If someone says something about me tomorrow, I will also deny it,” she said, “but it doesn’t mean that the honesty or intentions of a person talking about an experience they have undergone should be doubted.”
Much power to Ayesha about coming out in public to talk about what she went through and how she wouldn’t want any other women to experience such a situation. Kudos to you!
