By Palwasha Asif
In Pakistan, gendered narratives continue to exert a profound but often overlooked influence on political life. Far beyond the official platforms, manifestos, and policy frameworks, the language, symbols, and social expectations surrounding gender shape both how politicians are perceived and how political power itself is understood. Women’s presence in public life, while increasingly visible, is persistently filtered through lenses that privilege masculine traits and marginalize female authority. These narratives do more than reinforce social norms; they actively shape who is deemed fit to lead, whose voice is amplified, and whose agency is questioned or dismissed.
At the heart of Pakistani political discourse lies a masculinized conception of power. Qualities culturally coded as “masculine”—strength, decisiveness, aggression, and dominance—are routinely valorized as markers of effective leadership. Political speeches, media commentary, and public debate frequently celebrate the image of the strongman, framing authority as unyielding, firm, and uncompromising. In contrast, femininity is often associated with emotionality, vulnerability, or dependence, creating an implicit barrier to women’s political legitimacy. This framework marginalizes female politicians, judging them less by their policies or performance and more by how closely they conform—or fail to conform—to male-defined ideals of leadership.
Gendered criticism in Pakistan is pervasive, often targeting aspects of personal identity that male politicians rarely face. Women are scrutinized for their appearance, marital status, family background, and behavior in ways that distract from substantive political issues. Their clothing, tone of voice, or even facial expressions become fodder for public debate. Such scrutiny transcends party lines and dynastic affiliations. Even women with political lineage are not immune; instead, they are frequently cast as symbolic placeholders, their authority questioned or diminished by persistent narratives that reduce them to figureheads rather than independent actors.
Language itself becomes a tool to reinforce gendered hierarchies. Political insults and analogies grounded in gender assumptions are used to delegitimize women while rarely targeting men in comparable ways. Female leaders are disproportionately accused of weakness, emotional instability, or moral deficiency, while men are almost never condemned on these grounds. Even when feminizing language is employed to insult male politicians, it often reinforces the notion that femininity is inferior, further entrenching misogynistic assumptions. Such discursive practices normalize the idea that politics is inherently male, implicitly excluding women from full participation.
Media coverage amplifies these biases, often reinforcing stereotypes rather than challenging them. Television talk shows, news headlines, and social media platforms frequently depict male politicians as assertive, strategic, or authoritative, while female politicians are described as emotional, contentious, or divisive—even when their actions mirror those of their male counterparts. The rise of social media has intensified this dynamic, enabling targeted harassment that ranges from character assassination to threats and gendered abuse. For many women, this hostile environment discourages political participation and reinforces structural barriers to leadership.
Yet despite these formidable obstacles, Pakistani women continue to resist and reshape the political narrative. Increasingly, women politicians and activists are asserting their authority, highlighting policy-driven agendas, and engaging directly with constituents through digital platforms. Feminist movements, independent media, and civil society actors have played crucial roles in exposing gender biases and promoting more inclusive portrayals. Legislative measures such as reserved seats for women have improved numerical representation, but true equality remains elusive. Visibility alone is insufficient; without shifts in public perception, political language, and cultural norms, women remain constrained by the weight of entrenched gendered expectations.
Addressing these inequalities requires a multifaceted approach. Increasing the number of women in office is a necessary step, but it must be accompanied by broader structural reforms. Political discourse must be re-examined to challenge the implicit association of leadership with masculinity. Media practices need to hold themselves accountable for perpetuating gender stereotypes, portraying female politicians as capable leaders rather than anomalies. Cultural assumptions about power and authority must be questioned and reshaped, ensuring that political competence is evaluated on the basis of performance and ideas, not adherence to gendered norms.
(The writer is a student of MS journalism at NUST University has keen various interest in journalism and current affairs, can be reached at editorial@metro-morning)
