Mariyam Nafees calls for boundaries in joint families

Actor Mariyam Nafees has spoken openly about the pressures faced by women in joint-family systems, saying married couples should be given separate space and freedom to build their own lives without interference from elders.

Speaking during an interview, Mariyam said her views had evolved after marrying visual artist Amaan Ahmed in 2022 and becoming a mother to their son, Isa. She said she had become increasingly aware of the toxicity that can exist within traditional family arrangements and the expectations often imposed on women after marriage.

The actor said religion also supported the idea of married children living separately, adding that every family required its own personal space. She stated that although her son was still very young, she had already accepted that he would eventually grow up, marry and lead an independent life.

Mariyam stressed that caring for in-laws should not automatically become the responsibility of a wife and said such matters should be discussed before marriage. She added that if families could not afford separate homes, couples should at least be given privacy, including their own room and kitchen space within the house.

Speaking about women's rights within marriage, the actor said daughters-in-law should have the freedom to decorate and manage their homes according to their own preferences. She said giving women autonomy could positively benefit households and bring constructive changes within families.

Mariyam also criticised controlling attitudes among some mothers-in-law, saying many elders believed no other woman could understand or care for their sons better than they could. According to her, such thinking often became the starting point of conflicts and damaged relationships within households.

Actor Sharmeen Ali also joined the discussion, saying many parents unknowingly repeated behavioural patterns inherited from previous generations. She said younger generations were now attempting to unlearn toxic practices and adopt healthier approaches towards parenting and family relationships.

Sharmeen added that she was encouraged by the changing attitudes towards raising children and believed future generations, whether sons or daughters, would move away from traditional notions that created tension within marriages and joint-family systems.