Romaisa Khan challenges double standards around marriage and friendships

Actor argues women often have less freedom to maintain friendships and personal time, especially after having children

Actor and social media personality Romaisa Khan has weighed in on a conversation about marriage, friendships and the expectations placed on men and women after tying the knot.

The discussion began after digital creator Ramish Safa spoke about women who discourage their husbands from spending time with their friends after marriage.

“Those girls who don’t let guys meet their friends after marriage are cruel. Yes, when you get married, you have to live together, but that doesn’t mean your other relationships end,” Safa said during an interview.

He also spoke about married men wanting to maintain friendships and hobbies alongside their relationships.

“He is a man. He works all week and also spends time with his wife. He wants to go play paddle or cricket on Saturday, and she says, ‘No, come, let’s go eat falooda,’” he said.

 

 

 

 

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Khan agreed that marriage should not necessarily mean giving up friendships, but argued that men and women do not always have the same freedom to maintain lives outside the home.

“Yeah. Because men have the choice to go out and spend time with their friends whenever they want. Even after working all week, they somehow manage to make time for themselves. A lot of women, especially after having kids, don’t have that same freedom,” she said.

“A man can stay out all night knowing someone is home with the kids, while the woman is often expected to be that someone. Of course, that creates resentment when it feels like she’s the only one constantly sacrificing,” she added.

Her response prompted discussion online, with several users agreeing that both partners should be able to maintain friendships and hobbies after marriage.

“Why is this a debate? Men should go with their friends and so should their wives,” one user wrote, suggesting that couples could “set a schedule” and alternate weekends.

Others focused on the unequal expectations that can emerge once children enter the picture, arguing that personal freedom can become more difficult for women when they are also expected to take primary responsibility for the household and childcare.

One commenter took a more critical view of the conversation itself, writing, “Not everyone deserves to have a podcast online. Not everyone deserves a mic.”

Another described the issue as “very true and extremely unfair”, adding, “We have all seen our mothers make those sacrifices.”

The commenter also stressed the importance of both partners having lives outside their marriage, writing that it was “really important for both husband and wife to have their own friends and hobbies.”

The discussion ultimately moved beyond whether married men should be able to spend time with their friends.

For many commenters, the larger question was whether the same freedom was being extended to both partners — particularly once marriage and parenthood changed the balance of responsibilities.