Invisible Yet Indispensable

Respect for women in Kashmir remains conditional, yet their courage and endurance are reshaping society every day.

- Humaira Jan

Since childhood, I noticed how uneven the world felt.

A man can sit among women and feel at ease. But a girl, even a young teenager, feels exposed, measured, and judged.

Society whispers that she must be cautious, modest, and restrained. It’s easy to call this natural, but it is shaped by behaviour.

Men around us often display aggression and dominance, and women learn early to shrink, and anticipate disapproval. Respect mostly becomes a privilege.

I have seen friends criticised for the simplest things: combed hair, clean clothes, and a scarf neatly arranged.

A polite word is read as flirtation, an exasperated one as seduction. Girls who wear jeans or modern clothing are judged harshly, even when their dress is modest. Girls in abayas are praised to secure social standing.