Over these past few weeks there have been multiple instances where interviewers invite women celebrities and ask them unprofessional, unrelated and insulting questions related to how they live their lives. A few questions that come to mind is, why are only women targeted, especially when it comes to their personal choices? Paying someone to interview them does not guarantee you the right to humiliate someone publicly. Inviting and Insulting women on Podcasts has either become a trend or just pure misogyny where these men are not questioned for being involved in the same activities.
Meera Ji & Irshad Bhatti
Recently, Meera Ji appeared on Irshad Bhatti’s Podcast to promote her produced film ‘Psycho,’ but the interviewer, Irshad Bhatti, resorted to degrading tactics to gain viewership instead of discussing her achievements, film journey, or experience. Do they truly not believe in their own skills to host a successful podcast? The questions were related to Meera Ji’s past, even when she composedly tried to change the topic, or indicated that she is not comfortable talking about it, and rightly so. When will we stop questioning and humiliating women in the name of honor and morality? Why does society allow men to act unquestioned while forcing women to prove their dignity? Lets stop objectifying women by inviting and insulting them on podcasts.
Wardah Malik and Rehaan Tariq
Another Day, another man questioning a women about her choice of clothing, her source of earning and constantly demeaning her. Rehaan Tariq invited TikTok star Wardah Malik to his podcast for a pleasant conversation, but instead, he questioned her as if she were at a crime scene. The interviewer interrogated her about her choice of clothing, her content, and the influence it creates. No one can compel women on the internet to be a source of influence; they owe that to no one. Under article 19 , Pakistani Law permits creative expression, including dancing, but to constantly play a video content of the guest and to constantly humiliate them is highly unacceptable.
At one point, podcasts offered insightful, intellectual, and useful content. Even the non-intellectual ones, such as Ganji Swag and Muzzamil Shah, provided genuinely fun watching experiences
Ganji Swag
Junaid Akram’s podcast are insightful, knowledgeable and they keep you hooked throughout the video. He pioneered the trends for podcasts in Pakistan and his tone for podcasts is beyond just conversational, it’s fun and it keeps you hooked throughout.
Muzzamil Shah
Muzzamil Shah approaches topics like politics, history, and society in a deep, analytical way, often referencing philosophy, ideology, and global politics. Instead of simple opinions, he tries to build arguments step-by-step, like a lecture or debate.
Podcasts are for information, when you are inviting a guests, it is your responsibility to treat them with utmost respect, comfort, something that is enjoyable for the audience as well as guests. Inviting and Insulting women on podcasts is not something is appreciative. This practice acts in a highly unprofessional and misogynistic way, imposing a power imbalance that solely humiliates women while ignoring men’s involvement. Will the interviewers dare to ask such questions from the male celebrities involved?
