Television host\u00a0Aftab Iqbal expressed that marriage is the cure to mental illness on his television show.<\/p>\n
If the concept of wives having to ‘fix their husbands’ wasn’t bad enough, one television anchor just endorsed marriage as the cure to mental illness. We’re not sure how he arrived at this conclusion, despite having no experience in psychology and psychiatry.<\/p>\n
Another day, another misogynistic moment on national TV.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nALSO READ<\/p>\n
Its High Time that Pakistani Dramas Stop Glorifying Violence Against Women<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhat Happened?<\/h3>\n
Aftab Iqbal made this remark on AAP News comedy show\u00a0Kha<\/em>barzar<\/em>\u00a0on April, 13th.<\/p>\n
Not only is this an example\u00a0of irresponsible\u00a0remarks by a public figure, this also reflects the lack of understanding of mental illness in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Even so, how can anyone make that leap from a woman’s relationship status and her health? In fact, he added fuel to the fire by adding that mental illness occurs when women opt to pursue careers instead of marriage. He blatantly stated ‘that’s what happens when you go against<\/strong> nature’.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Perhaps the TV show host isn’t aware that women also contribute to Pakistan’s economy significantly. That’s quite a prehistoric mindset.<\/strong><\/p>\n
This rational as to\u00a0why women should not have financial independence\u00a0is an example of casual sexism. It’s so normalized now that most people will brush this incident with Aftab Iqbal as just him expressing his opinion.<\/p>\n
Being a public figure means exercising restraint and responsibility, a fact that is lost on some of our TV show hosts and anchors.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nALSO READ<\/p>\n
LUMS Female Students Shut Down Misogynist Facebook Group That Featured Disgusting Memes<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
How events unfolded<\/h3>\n
Comedy show\u00a0Kha<\/em>barzar<\/em>\u00a0 usually dramatizes events pertaining to social issues or current affairs\u00a0and then the host then enlightens everyone with his information on those issues.<\/p>\n
On\u00a0episode 50 the\u00a0show took up the issue of\u00a0phony spiritual leaders which\u00a0then led to the\u00a0host’s views on mental illness.<\/p>\n
While transitioning between fake faith healers and a single woman’s mental illness, the\u00a0host\u00a0went as\u00a0far as to say that the woman is:<\/p>\n
“31 years and not married. Then they complain she makes noises and gets taken over by djinns. This is a pure case of hysteria. You wretched women and your obsession with your careers… this is what happens when you disturb nature.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The woman’s on-screen brother then responds with further misogyny that his sister is too busy attending International workshops to consider marriage (to busy being successful).<\/p>\n
“Instead of having her attend workshops every other day, get her married.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The host then advises the brother to get his 31-year-old adult\u00a0sister married.<\/p>\n
To sum it up, here are a couple of things the comedy show host exhibited that day:<\/p>\n
\n
- His Ignorance on the subject of mental illness<\/li>\n
- Lack of serious attitude on mental illness as opposed to physical illness (would you suggest marriage as a cure to some with arthritis?)<\/li>\n
- Sexism and prejudice towards working women (women can attend International workshops)<\/li>\n
- Reinforcing the stereotype that marriage and careers are incompatible for women.<\/li>\n
- the medieval thinking that women are meant for the home and kitchen, while men belong to the outside world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nALSO READ<\/p>\n
Justice Served: Husband, Accomplice Jailed for Torturing Wife<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSocial Media Reactions<\/h3>\n
This being the 21st century, thankfully not everyone has the same archaic views like Aftab Iqbal here:<\/p>\n
\nMashallah, Aftab Iqbal raising awareness on mental disorders by showing a 31 yr old woman who is suffering from "hysteria" because she is single at that age. Career aspirations meddling with nature. "Shadi karao" is the solution apparently. It's 2019 @AAPNews<\/a>, stop the jahalat.<\/p>\n
— Imran Khan (@iopyne) April 13, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n