Have the same rules for sons and daughters: Nafees

Actor calls out double standards in parenting

In an interview with FHM Pakistan, actor Mariyam Nafees tackled a subject that often simmers beneath the surface of Pakistani society but rarely gets the direct spotlight: the glaring double standards in raising sons and daughters. Her words were not merely a call for gender equality; they were a critique of a cultural norm that quietly persists, despite the progress we've claimed to make.

Nafees took a firm stand on the safety and upbringing of children, particularly daughters. "People are bringing their daughters up in a great way. They are teaching them how to cook and pray," she remarked, noting the meticulous care many parents invest in their daughters' upbringing. However, she was quick to highlight the disparity when it comes to sons. "But when they have sons, it's like, 'Wow, God gave me a son!' and that son has a free reign. He has no restrictions. Why?"

The actor didn't mince words about the unequal freedoms often granted to boys, pointing out the expectation that daughters must return home by Maghreb, while sons enjoy the luxury of waking up at four in the afternoon and staying out till the early hours of the morning. Not to mention the fewer restrictions in other aspects of life. "He should also come home at Maghreb. If you want to call your daughter home at Maghreb, make sure you call your son home too," she stated, drawing attention to the inconsistency that undermines efforts to create a safer society for everyone.

But Nafees didn't stop at merely pointing out the problem—she suggested a simple yet profound solution: equality in household rules. "Whatever rules and regulations you have for your daughters, your sons need to have those same rules," she insisted. And before anyone could misinterpret her, she clarified, "When I say they should have the same rules, I don't mean send your daughter out after sunset, what I mean is don't send your son out either."

When challenged that if neither daughter nor sons are allowed to go out after sunset, the city will be empty, Nafees quipped, "But at least it'll be safe."