Pakistani workplaces have a long way to go in terms of gender parity and equality of opportunities. There are so many instances of women being discriminated against in the workplace. Now even Pakistani journalist Asma Shirazi has come forth with her workplace discrimination story as a pregnant woman.
Just days ago television show host, Juggun Kazim opened up about ‘nasty comments’ about her body after giving birth to her beautiful baby girl. The former Pakistan Television morning show host broke down over body shaming in the workplace, especially as a pregnant woman and new mother.
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While speaking at a webinar titled ‘Unpacking the Media Coverage of Aurat March‘, Asma Shirazi opened up about being discouraged from working in the newsroom as a pregnant woman. She revealed she faced this ordeal when she was expecting her first child.
“I was told I couldn’t do my show five days a week just because I was pregnant,”
"Conspiracy is very attractive, doctored and edited versions of videos and photos spread like wild fire, and this time Aurat March was also affected by organised propaganda," said Asma Shirazi
— CEJ (@CEJatIBA) March 16, 2021
Some really important questions were answered in our webinar on the media coverage of this year’s Aurat March. Watch the full session on our Facebook page. https://t.co/RbPyuGPiyf #WomensHistoryMonth #AuratMarch2021 #atCEJ #IBA #Webinar pic.twitter.com/M1JUCWMv09
— CEJ (@CEJatIBA) March 17, 2021
The journalist was featured on the panel at a webinar along with journalist Zebunnisa Burki. When asked how having more women in the workplace will make a difference in reporting on women-related issues and events, such as Aurat March, she shared her experience as a pregnant woman working in a newsroom. Adding that pregnant woman with desk jobs or in the field are considered ‘useless’ in newsrooms.
“I resisted people telling me that, … but I felt I was being shunned because of my pregnancy.”
Additionally, she called out media house owners who think women can’t work under pressure. As well as the idea women are not fit for senior editorial positions.