Stories by Maria Amir

The perils of saying ‘no’

‘No’ is more than a complete sentence, for women, it is a complex syntax that has been perfected by navigating a complicated web — body language, tone, eye contact, walk, clothes, and even a smile. Published 12 Jun, 2025 11:08am

The women will march

The Aurat March is not a sanitised, polite, controlled version of a narrative of women’s rights. It is organic and therefore, it will always be messy and diverse. Published 08 Mar, 2023 04:48pm

The mob assault near Minar-i-Pakistan and why ‘Mera Jism, Meri Marzi’ matters more than ever

Our existence and freedoms should not be dependent on whether the men in our lives, our society or our government ‘allow’ it. Updated 18 Aug, 2021 11:35am

In Pakistan, rape culture is not only systemic, it is reinforced at every level

The idea that men simply cannot be expected to control their baser impulses in the presence of women has been normalised. Published 16 Sep, 2020 07:57pm

Why Women's Day means more than the token holiday it's become

Women's Day has been diluted to a point where it doesn't kickstart the change we want Published 14 Mar, 2017 03:18pm

Trump Cards and Trump Questions

Trump is an answer to many things, the worst possible answer but an answer nonetheless. Published 12 Nov, 2016 03:07pm

What Brand Pakistan can learn from Brand India

Pakistan needs to focus on a soft policy approach that counters its chest thumping about military might. Updated 08 Nov, 2016 06:11pm

The real story is not about the Chaiwala. The real story is about us

Arshad Khan’s story is one of reverse sexism, reverse objectification and reverse stereotyping. Updated 19 Oct, 2016 02:39pm

What is 'Pakistani culture' anyway?

We have a clearer impression of what our culture ‘isn’t’ rather than what it ‘is’. Updated 05 Oct, 2016 02:05pm

For the women we love to hate

Who has a bigger problem with women’s bodies these days? It’s a toss-up. Published 16 Aug, 2016 12:02pm

Edhi's politics of kindness

Edhi was a consummate rebel, who quietly defied every one of us. Published 11 Jul, 2016 01:09pm

'Lightly' beating about the bush in 2016

Our cultural consciousness is still located along the bodies of our women — this is where we currently stand. Updated 30 May, 2016 11:31am

How this Women's Day is different for Pakistan

Women who I have witnessed hiding their histories of abuse suddenly told me they wanted to put it on record. Updated 08 Mar, 2016 05:53pm

Guns for schoolteachers: An inevitable death in Swat

The incident brings us squarely back to the issue of the logic behind weaponising schools and arming educators. Updated 12 Jun, 2015 06:39pm

Sabeen, what do I teach our children now?

I am at loss on where to start, when giving up on it all just seems simpler… safer. Updated 27 Apr, 2015 03:02pm

'Too graphic' to be a Violence Against Women campaign?

Violence against women particularly somehow becomes ‘political’, the question is never about ‘who’ but rather ‘why’. Updated 09 Mar, 2015 05:06pm

Time to confront the Taliban apologists in our midst

I no longer care what our politicians, government and army can do about terrorism. What can we do? Updated 19 Dec, 2014 03:52pm

A memo to the HEC: Define 'nationalism' please

The HEC memo is a ‘request’ that we stay where we always have stayed - with our lack of critical thinking. Published 11 Nov, 2014 03:17pm

'We are OK with sexual harassment'

Harassment is everywhere if one looks hard enough, so naturally, few ever do. Updated 08 Nov, 2014 05:24pm

Aap ko Malala Mubarak ho…

It really is about time we stopped disowning the few people who are determined to work for Pakistan. Updated 20 Oct, 2014 04:27pm