I wouldn't call myself a feminist, says Sarwat Gilani

'Churails' star talks feminism in Pakistan, why she wouldn't align to the ideology and what the notion means to her

Sarwat Gilani made headlines last year with her highly-popular web series Churails. Touted as the 'controversial project' of the year, the Asim Abbasi directorial certainly managed to grab some eyeballs in Pakistan and in India, both.

Bold, dark and unabashedly real, Churails was a feminist's dream. However, in a recent interview, Gilani has confessed that she isn’t a feminist herself. Whilst speaking with Mira Sethi, the actor revealed what she thinks feminism means and why she wouldn't want to align herself with the ideology.

"Toxic masculinity is the worst virus. I wouldn't say I am a feminist; I feel a man has his own place," the starlet asserted, prompting Sethi to interject, "But feminism doesn't say that a man doesn't have his own place." To this, Gilani replied, "Yes, but I won't keep chanting woman this or woman that. I feel there's a certain time where women do need men, no matter how independent. I am an independent woman but at the end of the day, I feel like I need somebody who will take care of me and who I can depend upon."

She added, "If we talk about feminism in Pakistan particularly, they think men have nothing to do with it. However, many men help take feminism forward because they support women, they back them, elevate and encourage their women to take a step forward."

For Gilani, feminism is a very “balanced” idea. "A lot of people think feminism is all about women but I feel it's not. It has to do with men as well. A man making alternations within himself can also be touted as feminism. We misunderstand the term. That's why I wouldn't call myself a feminist but someone who believes in equal rights," she stated. "But then, you are a feminist," Sethi pressed. "Am I?" Gilani questioned. "But I do understand why few men have issues with women. I try and understand men as well. Like I feel that the women are very emotional. So I have two minds with this statement. And since I’m an actor and an artist, I tend to put myself in everybody else's shoes, whether it's a man or a woman. That's where I feel I am conflicted."

But the Jawani Phir Nahi Ani star shared the solution to her predicament as well. "The only way I can see this being solved is by creating awareness. I am a motivational speaker; I have talked to a lot of women. I keep making them understand that no one will help us, not even the men in our house, unless we help ourselves," she remarked. "And how do we help ourselves? By knowing the rules and laws that protect us. We don't even know what's in our nikkahnama. I read mine and made some changes to it. But 98% of women do not know this. Many girls from educated families are told to not pay heed to what's written in there. Then, how can we expect someone from a rural area to be educated about their rights?"

Sethi concurred and added how even she was unaware of the laws for women until a high profile case came to light and she read local harassment laws. "You know, if you don't have a permanent job and you are working as a freelancer, you can't file anything under workplace harassment laws," Gilani pointed out. "So, unless we know how we can protect ourselves, people will keep on benefitting from us. We are the victims of the system. We just need to be aware. Everything is available on Google."

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